Martha Graham: Innovation In The World Of Dance

Rebellion is a part of human nature. It is something that everyone goes through at some point in their life. Very few people can say that their rebellion caused a revolution.

When you think of art and the innovators who have carved a new and exciting path, you most likely think of Picasso and Pollock. These artists created a new look that had never been seen or even though about before. The same is true of Martha Graham for her contribution to the art of dance.

When we think about the artists who have created a new way of looking at art, we probably think about Picasso and Pollock. These two artists created an art that had never been seen and forced the people of their generation to see things in a different way. Martha Graham is an artist who has changed the way that people see and experience dance.

Martha Graham lived during the depression in New York City, which faced some of the most devastating poverty in the world. New York City was a city in turmoil with a huge population of unskilled immigrants there was a dark pall across the entire landscape. In fact, for many of the people who were living during this time, it seemed as if there were no hope.

It was Martha Graham's wish that the dances that she choreographed would speak to the real people. One of the most noted pieces that she created was called "Steps in the Street". This performance was an effort to show in dance the real pain that people were experiencing during the Depression. Twelve women in black dresses who display the agony and the helplessness that was a part of the landscape of the time perform the piece.

When you watch this dance you will see the twelve women in their long dresses grinding and gyrating around the stage in unison as they display the collective human form dragged down by the spiral of depression. The dance was unique for the time period and no one knew how to classify it or even what to call it. It was like no other dance performance at the time.

The audience was faced with something that had never been done on the stage before. This dance was not ballet, nor was it any of the dancing that had previously been the trend during this era in society. That was exactly the point of the dance, to take apart what was the typical escapism and bring realism to the world of the dance.

Martha Graham could be classified as a trailblazer because of her ability to do something that hadn't been attempted before her. She was able to take dance and turn it into a social and political statement of the conditions of her world as she saw it. Now, people understand that the dance can be a political statement or any other expression that we wish it to be.

This pioneer was not afraid to let the world see her vision. She did not fear the words of the critics or the condemnation that might be directed toward her. She took her passion and artistic sense and created a world that sees dance as an art.

There are very few people who are brave enough to push an entire art form into the future. She taught the world that the medium that is used to make a statement does not matter. Artists are those who push fearlessly into the future and bring their art with them for those in future generations to enjoy.

About The Author:

John-Mark is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, fashion model and a mentor at Asia's Premier Film School, the International Academy of Film and Television.

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