Your Guide To The Choreographers That Changed Dance
Choreographers make art using body movement – any ballet or other dance performance requires their magic touch to both create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing works.
As an avid dance enthusiast, I am highly interested in learning about choreography, as well as following the career path of some of the current well-known choreographers such as Craig Revel Horwood as well as the master innovators who paved their way.
The following guide will give dance fans an exploration of some of the most famous choreographers who set a new standard starting with Martha Graham (modern dance) and George Balanchine (modern ballet).
Martha Graham (1894-1991)
American Martha Graham pushed the art of dance to new limits. Starting from the age of 16, when she attended her first dance performance in Los Angeles, she was so enthralled that she vowed to devote her life to the profession. She only managed to truly begin her career at 22 however, despite being told she was already too old to aspire to dancing and that her body was not properly build for it. Nevertheless, she trained with such dedication that she managed to secure a place with Denishawn for seven years, after which she moved to New York. There, in 1929, she launched her own company, with the aspiration of “charting the graph of the heart” through movement. To this day, the Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest, most celebrated modern dance company in the world.
Through her choreography, Martha created a new language of dance, even though her earlier works were not well-received by audiences as they were used to more traditional performances. Powerful and modern, her choreography was often based on strong, precise movements and pelvic contractions. She also believed that by incorporating spastic movements and falls, she could express emotional and spiritual themes.
Martha performed until 1969, long past the normal retirement age. She continued to teach dance until her death in 1991, at the grand age of 96. Martha Grahams legacy lives on however – her dance company continues to attract some of the most up and coming dancers of our time.
George Balanchine (1904-1983)
George Balanchine is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet – the history of American ballet in particular would never have evolved so successfully without the timeless classics he masterfully created.
Originally born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Balanchine was one of four dancers who in 1924 were allowed to leave the newly formed Soviet Union for a tour in Western Europe. They defected, and were soon performing in London. They then joined Serge Diaghilev’s highly respected company called Ballets Russes, where Balanchine became their principal choreographer. There he created several ballets, but unfortunately a serious knee injury ended his performance career.
Balanchine moved to the US in 1933 and became director of ballet for the Metropolitan Opera House. He also formed a professional company of his own, named the American Ballet Caravan, which toured America. After several years the company collapsed, and was reborn as the Ballet Society. In 1948, it became the New York City Ballet, of which he was the artistic director and primary choreographer. To this day this company is one of the most prestigious organisations in the world of ballet.
Conclusion
Choreographers Martha Graham and George Balanchine revolutionised the world of contemporary dance with their unique innovation and passion they circumvented difficult obstacles to bring their vision to the public. They also paved the way for modern choreographers such as the UKs own Craig Revel Horwood to excel in their profession.