Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American dancer and choreographer who pioneered modern dance in the twentieth century.
Her technique—emphasizing contraction and release of the torso, angular movements, and emotional intensity—became foundational to contemporary dance training.
Graham's company and school shaped generations of dancers, and her name often stands for modern dance itself: She studied Graham technique for years.
Reduction in size
- releaseTo let go
- floorworkDance performed on floor
- spiralingCurving in widening circles
- breathAir taken in
torso · pelvis · percussive · angular · bound · unbound · gravity · weight
Complex psychological state
- gestureCommunicative body movement
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- theatricalityExaggerated, showy manner
- intensityStrength or force level
passion · soulfulness · pathos · anguish · grief · desire · rage · psychological
Early explorer or settler
- iconPictorial screen symbol
- influencePower to affect others
- disciplesDevoted followers of teachings
- mentorshipGuidance from experienced person
foundation · archives · curriculum · conservatory · pedagogy · repertory · cultural impact · recognition
Greek queen, husband-slayer
- JudithHebrew heroine, biblical
- FrontierBudget American airline
- PhaedraCretan princess, Athenian queen
- repertoireWorks ready to perform
staging · premiere · ensemble · solos · duets · composition · mythology · Greek tragedy
Innovative cultural pioneers
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- expressionismDistorting reality for emotion
- abstractionDistilling to essential qualities
primitivism · Isadora Duncan · twentieth century · artistic vision · costumes · set design · Noguchi · collaboration
contraction
Reduction in size
breath · torso · pelvis · percussive · angular · bound · unbound · gravity · weight · tension
emotion
Complex psychological state
- gestureCommunicative body movement
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- theatricalityExaggerated, showy manner
intensity · passion · soulfulness · pathos · anguish · grief · desire · rage · psychological · catharsis
pioneer
Early explorer or settler
mentorship · foundation · archives · curriculum · conservatory · pedagogy · repertory · cultural impact · recognition · tribute
Clytemnestra
Greek queen, husband-slayer
repertoire · staging · premiere · ensemble · solos · duets · composition · mythology · Greek tragedy · narrative
avant-garde
Innovative cultural pioneers
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- expressionismDistorting reality for emotion
abstraction · primitivism · Isadora Duncan · twentieth century · artistic vision · costumes · set design · Noguchi · collaboration · originality
- Dancersdancer, ballet dancer, tap dancer, modern dancer, contemporary dancer
- modern dancemodern dance, contemporary dance, Isadora Duncan, interpretive dance, Nijinsky
- theaterplays, stage, play, onstage, acting
- dance termsballet, arabesque, plie, jete, turn
- iconsapp icon, home icon, settings icon, search icon, share icon
- theater historyGreek tragedy, vaudeville, William Shakespeare, Drury Lane, Christopher Marlowe
Martha Grahamclassical ballet
Formal European theatrical dance
Anna Pavlova · traditionalist · Isadora Duncan · Alvin Ailey · pointe work