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.
In the art world the greatest artists are the ones who have brought about a revolution with their innovative thinking. Artists like Picasso changed the way we see the world. Pollock changed the way that we think that art is supposed to look like. And Martha Graham brought the world of dance out of the realm of entertainment and into the world of art.
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.
The theater on Broadway provided a means of escape, but only for those who had the money to indulge. Graham saw the stage as an escape from the real world that surrounded it. Her vision was to bring the reality of life to the stage and give movement and motion to the turmoil of the real New York City.
Her noted piece “Steps in the Streets”, which was a part of a larger performance called Chronicle, she displays the pain and helplessness that many of the people in the city could relate to. Twelve women dressed in black dresses perform this piece of undulating movements on the stage. The dance through movement gives the audience a glimpse into the hopelessness and helplessness that so many real people’s experience.
The critics of Martha Graham’s dance could not determine where she was coming from, or even what she was trying to do. The performance was so different from anything that was being done at the time that it took years before it could be understood, let alone appreciated. Today we are better able to comprehend the meaning behind the dance.
There were critics of Graham’s work, however. It was difficult for them to understand what she was trying to accomplish with her work and what standpoint she was working from. It took many years for people to begin to understand that the dance that was created by Martha Graham was self expression in its agonizing glory.
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.
Because of the work of Martha Graham we can see dance as an art instead of a pleasant diversion from the harsh realities of real life. Her stand was daring and brave for confronting the people of her generation with the reality of many people’s existence. There was no fantasy or dream in her performances, but only the truth as she saw it.