Martha Graham Research Paper

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Martha Graham; A New Beginning On May 11, 1894, one of the most well-known modern dance pioneers was born. Unbeknownst to the world at first was a true genius. At age 16, Martha Graham saw her first dance performance, Miss Ruth St. Denis in Radha. While her nanny originally brought movement into her life, Ruth St. Denis was what set the fiery passion loose in young Graham. After the performance Graham begged her parents to let her dance, but her father was a strong Presbyterian and it was against her religion. A few years later he passed away and she immediately began dance training at Denis’s and her husband, Ted Shawn, school. Dancing and instructing for them for a little over 8 years she then left the school to perform with the Greenwich …show more content…

She would relate the dances very closely to them. She worked with many composers to create these works, giving her many opportunities for networking which is how she met Isamu Noguchi, whom did the large majority of her set designs. Her costuming would vary from era to era, but it often involved long flowy ankle length skirts or gauchos for the women with leotard like tops to the costumes, depending on the piece. Men would often wear tights, suit like costumes or little to nothing (i.e. dance shorts).
Colors would vary for her sets and costumes, depending on her pieces. Many of her pieces that were choreographed on Greek gods/goddesses would often focus on white (innocence), red (for lust, blood or anger), light yellows and light pinks. Whereas pieces like Deep Song would be based almost strictly on what they were about. Deep Song was about the Spanish Civil War so the costume has some very Spanish influences.
One of the cool tidbits about Graham was that she designed all of her own costumes and made most of them herself, making them all unique for the dancers that wore them. While they’ve been recreated by the Martha Graham Company’s seamstresses for more recent performances they try to keep the true to her original styles, even with the new works they

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