Tag: martha graham

7 Dancers to Know This International Women's Day

7 Dancers to Know This International Women’s Day

March 8 is International Women’s Day. Today, we recognize all the incredible contributions women have made to society—and acknowledge the persistent discrimination that women have overcome and continue to overcome. Dance Spirit is here to highlight just a few of the amazing women throughout history who changed the course of dance forever through their creativity, […]

Lloyd Knight Writes a Letter to His Teenage Self

Principal Lloyd Knight has become a true standout in the Martha Graham Dance Company thanks to his compelling presence and dynamic technique. Knight, who performs leading roles in iconic pieces like Appalachian Spring and Embattled Garden, was born in England and raised in Miami, where he trained at the Miami Conservatory and later graduated from […]

The Lowdown on Martha Graham Dance Company's Marzia Memoli

Marzia Memoli may be the Martha Graham Dance Company’s newest dancer, but her classical lines and easy grace are already turning heads. Originally from Palermo, Italy, Memoli started studying at age 16 at the Academy of Teatro Carcano in Milan. Later, she attended the Rudra Béjart School in Lausanne, Switzerland, before heading to NYC in […]

Letter to My Teenage Self: PeiJu Chien-Pott

With every signature Graham contraction, Martha Graham Dance Company principal PeiJu Chien-Pott’s power emanates from her core and ripples through her body, to the point that you start to feel your own breath stop and start with hers. Add her picture-perfect lines and classical technique, honed at the Taipei National University of the Arts, and […]

How to Master Martha Graham Hands

The signature cupped hands of the celebrants in Primitive Mysteries; the clawed hands of Medea in Cave of the Heart—“Graham hands” are unmistakable and create next-level drama. Each thrust or flick enhances Graham’s larger-than-life characters. “Martha marveled over the possibilities of the hands,” says Terese Capucilli, a former Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer who […]

Martha Graham, the Fashion Icon

If there’s one word to describe the Martha Graham Dance Company, it’s iconic. From the trademark “Graham” cupped hands to the powerful movements making up her choreo, Martha Graham knew a thing or two about statements. So it’s no surprise that she was as tuned into fashion as she was dance. Vogue took it a step further and decided […]

Up Front: Buzz with Paul Taylor Dance Company

The vision for Paul Taylor’s reimagined company, Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance, becomes fully realized this month with its spring season, opening March 16 and running through April 3. Rather than its usual all-Taylor programming, the group will perform commissioned premieres by choreographers Larry Keigwin and Doug Elkins, as well as Diversion of Angels by […]

Inside the Martha Graham Dance Company's 90th Season

The Martha Graham Dance Company turns 90—NINETY—this year. Like most things that have survived for the better part of a century, it has an incredibly rich history. Unlike most 90-year-olds, though, it still knows how to throw a heck of a birthday party. What does a Graham-style anniversary celebration look like? Well, it kicked off […]