Martha Graham, the Ancient Greek Theater and the Rewriting of the Classical Texts through the Bodily Movement on Stage
Martha Graham, the Ancient Greek Theater and the Rewriting of the Classical Texts through the Bodily Movement on Stage

Summary/Abstract: The dancer, choreographer, and public figure Martha Graham (1894-1991) is considered one of the brightest personalities of the 20th Century, as well as one of the greatest innovators of dance. Often compared with Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky and James Joyce for the way in which she revolutionized the arts, Graham danced until late in her long life and created hundreds of dances. A significant number of them are considered masterpieces. However, an important segment of her creation was inspired from the Greek ancient theater and mythology. Graham’s deep interest and fascination with Greek culture resulted in a number of modern and original choreographies, to be found at the intersection of performing arts, including theater. Most importantly, “the Greek works” are still present in Graham’s Company (established in 1926) repertoire, which continues to embody Graham’s artistic vision nowadays. My presentation addresses some of Graham’s “Mythographic and Mythologic Circle” works, focusing on the way in which the Greek ancient theater was re-written in Graham’s creations through dance, gesture, scenography and music. A special attention will be given to the works Cave of the Heart, Errand into the Maze, Night Journey and Clytemnestra, which are describing Medeea, Ariadna, Jocasta, Clytemnestra, Oedipus and Agamemnon’s destinies. Graham and her Greek Choir told their stories of love, jealousy, incest, hope and tragedy without words, while rewriting the texts through dance. My presentation is based on research from American and European archives and collections, interviews with former Graham dancers, and it will be accompanied by visual materials and excerpts from films and documentaries dedicated to Martha Graham and her Company. It will end my presentation with a discussion of the way in which Graham Company, based in New York City, is continuing nowadays the dialogue between the past and the present, the dance and the theater, the words and the body language.

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