Full Description
What is the legacy of Martha Graham and why does it endure?
How and why did the philosophy and subsequent canon of Martha Graham flood out into an artistic diaspora that is still a wellspring of inspiration for contemporary artists?
How do dancers that have never studied with, or worked under, Martha Graham maintain her vision?
All of these questions, and many more, are considered in this fascinating book, authored by one of the Martha Graham Company's ex-principal dancers, which illuminates the ongoing significance of the Martha Graham Dance Company almost 100 years after it was founded.
Through doing so, we are offered a study of the history of the Martha Graham Dance Company - the longest-standing modern dance company in America, its international diaspora and the current generation of dancers taking up the mantel.
Drawing on extensive interviews conducted for the book, the company's story is told through the experiences, inspirations, motivations and words of performers from Graham's iconic artistic lineage.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: The artist in her own words
Chapter 2: The house of the pelvic truth (1926 - present day) - releasing the female body and the significant of a female-derived dance technique
Chapter 3: Story-telling and transgressing norms
Chapter 4: Endurance/re-birth - Graham's dancers take the lead
Chapter 5: Graham in diaspora - testimonies and inspirations from artistic collaborators and practitioners (1947-present day)
Bibliography
Index
