Martha Graham
American modern dancer who created the Graham technique.
She danced and taught for over seventy years, becoming the first dancer to perform at the White House, travel abroad as a cultural ambassador, and receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
- field
- Modern dance, choreography, teaching
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Creating the Graham technique; first dancer to perform at the White House; recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction
Lore & Background
Her father, George Graham, was an alienist (an early form of psychiatry), and the family were Presbyterians. Her mother, Jane Beers, claimed descent from Myles Standish. The family moved to Santa Maria, California, when Martha was fourteen.
Reader's Guide
Martha Graham's significance lies in her creation of the Graham technique, which pioneered the principle of 'contraction and release' in modern dance, derived from a stylized conception of breathing. She resisted recording her dances for much of her career, believing performances should be experienced live, though exceptions exist.
Did You Know?
- She collaborated with Japanese-American photographer Soichi Sunami in the 1920s.
More in Dance Pioneers 1-23
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