Martha Graham Was Able to Bring about Revolutionary Changes with Her Modes of Dances - Coursework Example

Martha Graham was able to bring about revolutionary changes with her modes and forms of dances Introduction Over the years, various countries in the world have expressed themselves through varied body movements and usages. Individuals have done this through the use of dance, which forms a special part of art where the body is made to move and create a particular effect on the dancer as well as those who are watching. There are various forms of dances that are performed different and thus are capable of eliciting varied emotions and reactions. One of the most unique types of dances that evoke as much emotion is known as the ballet. It was not only a dance for Martha Graham but formed her special way of expressing her happiness and her fears. She did this through the gestures that she made using her body. Through her subject matter, Graham was found to have made numerous transformations in dancing. It is in the sense that most of her themes can be easily analyzed. It is as a result of these efforts that Martha graham was able to create revolutionary changes and making a lot of influence among the people who interacted and watched her dances. Therefore, it can be said that it is because of her immense attention and keenness to a number of actions that she was able to emulate and encompass in her dances to attain success. This paper will discuss her unique efforts and characters in relation to her dance and the influence that it has had in the modern dance society since its introduction. Martha Graham is recognmized as one of the greatest artists that ever existed during the 20th century. She created a language that was based on movement and the capacity of the human body to make varied expressions. This exemplary performance and element of influence has its roots from the time that she started to teach a group of dancers who had become interested in her creative works. Martha Graham had a great impact in the American society since she was a dancer who was extremely influential. She was also a teacher who additionally choreographed modern dance. Martha was able to give a new depth to dance and express her emotions in a forceful manner with the way that she came up with different creations (Kessel 42).Throughout the many decades and ages, she became widely known all over the world. She released her first debut in the early years of 1920’s. She gained more and more experienced as she progressed in her career. In addition, she also became wiser in the field of modern dances. By some people though, the style that was used by Martha Graham was considered to be controversial. Nonetheless, she worked her ways through become one of the finest dancers and choreographers all over the world (Harmon et. Al 93-115). She was also an active member of the society through her works and role sin the society. Martha Graham was born on May 11 in 1894 in Allegheny in Pennsylvania to Jane Beers and George Graham. After she had lived in Pennsylvania for 12 years, she, together with her family later moved to Barbara in California in 1908 (Harmon et al. 182). It is in Santa Barbara that she started to study about modern dance. Nonetheless, she did this during the earlier years when she was around 14 years old. She portrayed a great kind of attention during the recital dance that she attended for the first time in Los Angeles in California. It was performed by a dancer and choreographer by the name of Ruth St. Denis. It was at this point that she got really interested in dancing she enrolled at the Denishaw school and dance troop. This school that is owned by Ruth St. Denis had a great impact on the decision by Martha Graham to pursue her idea in dancing. Some of the many masters include the Primitive mysteries. It is this work and performance that helped her gain massive attention from all quarters (Kessel 50). One of the people who influenced her most to pursue her works and handle them to perfection was her father. The greatest step that Dr. Graham took to motivate his daughter was his insistence for her to search for the meaning that is always found behind the actions of human beings. Her main encouragement came from the moments that she looked at her father’s patients with a lot of be-wildment (Kessel 67). Most of the time they would blurt out and react in queer manner. However, her father was able to restore a number of them to good health. This is the main element that she was able to incorporate into her dance. This is the main element that she was able to incorporate into her dance; using the little that you have to create a big impact in the society. It took place while based on the notion that, it is only by doing something with an open mind and with great devotion and uniqueness that one can make a great impact and make major influence on the society (Pratt 28-50). Most of the techniques that Dr. Graham employed were highly unique. Kessel (70) indicates that the style that she used was able to bring out clear emotions, which those who observed her could relate to.She was able to develop her own method that she attained through breathing and being able to control her impulse. Most of the movements she made had their origins in the tension obtained from the contraction of muscles. There was also the continued flow of the energy that was released from the body as a result of muscle relaxation. From the biography that is written in relation to the “Life and Works of Martha Graham”, many gestures are made owing to the spasm of the diaphragm (Mille & Helene 111). Owing to the unique nature with which she conducted her modern dance sessions, Martha Graham came to be known as the mother of native dances in America. In her works, Martha Graham used varied dance traditions in the effort to create a dance style that would be considered as Neo-classical. It was her belief that the origin of music and dance in particular was the constant stretch and contraction of the tension and the contraction of activities. This continues until the time that there is the flow of energy as the body has been relaxed. It is this kind of passion that is reflected in the way she says that “I wanted to begin not with characters or ideas, but with movements . . .I wanted significant movement. I did not want it to be beautiful or fluid. I wanted it to be fraught with inner meaning, with excitement and surge” (Freedman 25) The dancers who were dancing together with Martha Graham appeared to be origin at first. This made the dance unpopular. However, the style started to pick some trends in the dance industry. In turn the fans belonging to Graham began to understand and get used to it as it was used more during the performance. Subsequently, the impact that her dance had on the crowd was staggering similar to that of the great painters, musicians and architects. With her contributions, she was able to transform the form of art that is associated with emotive dances, revitalize it and expand dances all over the world. She wanted to share what she could express and that is the reason why she started a dance company through which she inspired a number of other interested individuals. The Martha Graham studio was started out of this initiative. It remained under her guidance and leadership for the next 66 years that she managed to exhibit exemplary performance in her dances, which were also reflected in the performances that were given by her dancers. Great influence and interest has been gained since the beginning of Martha Graham’s works. As is indicated in Classical LA (45), it has led to a number of accreditations as well as the recognition by several dance schools that include the National Associations of Schools of Dance, which adopted the term commonly used by Martha “Professional Studio School” to refer to the independent dance studios, which provide teachings that meet the professional standards. In this case, the creativity exhibited by Martha Graham crossed a number of artistic boundaries and was embraced by a majority of artistic genres. She worked together with some of the leading visual artists and commissioned the work of the musicians and sculptors of her day. They include scul;ptors such as Isamu and composers such as William Schuiman. She influenced many generations of choreographers while enabling them to broaden their artistry. In conclusion, Martha gave her all in most activities that she was involved in. As she aged, Martha Graham was continuously in and out of hospital. She was later told that she was suffering from a terminal illness. In particular, she was suffering from liver Cirrhosis. However, she was not aware that her main cause of death would be alcoholism. In 1991, Martha Graham died at the age of 91. Despite her current absence, the influence that she made in dancing will go on forever. She offered a unique style of dancing for modern dances. Throughout the career that Martha held, it is apparent that she was a different individual. There are several aspects that greatly led to her success. They include her major devotion to practice constantly, to apply techniques that are unique and to employ techniques that are forceful. Owing to this, the impact and influence that was created by her dance will make her live on for as long as possible. References Classical LA. Los Angeles Magazine, Vol. 48 (11). Nov. 2003: p. 45 Harmon, Justin, et al. American Cultural Leaders. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. 2013. Print Kessel, Kristin. Martha Graham. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2006. Print. Mille, Agnes de & Helene Oblensky. American Dances. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 2008. Print. Pratt, Paula Bryant. The Importance of Martha Graham. San Diego: Lucent Books, 2005. Print. Freedman, Russell. Martha Graham, a dancer's life. New York: Clarion Books, 1998. Print Read More