Graham technique

The Martha Graham Dance Company in performance. The central woman's pose shows the characteristic tension and theatricality of Graham technique.

Graham technique is a modern dance movement style and pedagogy created by American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (1894–1991).[1] Graham technique has been called the "cornerstone" of American modern dance, and has been taught worldwide.[2] It is widely regarded as the first codified modern dance technique,[3] and strongly influenced the later techniques of Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, and Paul Taylor.[4][5][6]

Graham technique is based on the opposition between contraction and release, a concept based on the breathing cycle which has become a "trademark" of modern dance forms.[7][8] Its other dominant principle is the "spiraling" of the torso around the axis of the spine.[9] Graham technique is known for its unique dramatic and expressive qualities and distinctive floorwork;[1][10] dance critic Anna Kisselgoff described it as "powerful, dynamic, jagged and filled with tension".[11]

The phrase "Graham technique" was registered as a trademark before Graham's death, and was the subject of a trademark dispute in the early 2000s.[12]

  1. ^ a b Aggiss, Liz (1999). Bullock, Alan; Trombley, Stephen (eds.). The Norton Dictionary of Modern Thought. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 371. ISBN 9780393046960.
  2. ^ "Time 100: Martha Graham". Time. August 6, 1998. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Reynolds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference McFee was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Perces was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Harss was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bannerman99 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Kassing, G.; Jay, D.M. (2003). Dance Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design. Human Kinetics. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-7360-0240-0.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hart-Johnson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Graham Technique". Dance Spirit. March 19, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  11. ^ Kisselgoff, Anna (April 2, 1991). "Martha Graham Dies at 96; A Revolutionary in Dance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference rights was invoked but never defined (see the help page).