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Martha Graham and Lamentation 7.1 Describe Martha Graham's background, training and career - NSC Dance Studies - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 7
Martha Graham and Lamentation 7.1 Describe Martha Graham's background, training and career. Martha Graham was born into a strict Presbyterian family that opposed h... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Martha Graham and Lamentation 7.1 Describe Martha Graham's background, training and career - NSC Dance Studies - Question 7 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe Martha Graham's background, training and career.
Answer
Martha Graham was born into a strict Presbyterian family that opposed her participation in the performing arts. However, she was determined to pursue her passion for dance and persuaded her father to take her to a performance by Ruth St. Denis, which significantly impacted her life choices. After facing opposition from her family and unable to dance publicly until her father's death, she attended the Denishawn School. There, she received foundational training and collaborated with Louis Horst, who was instrumental in her artistic development. Graham relocated to New York City, where she became a key figure in modern dance and founded the Martha Graham School of Modern Dance in 1926, along with her own dance company.
Step 2
Explain how Martha Graham's Lamentation was innovative for that time.
Answer
Lamentation showcased pioneering movement vocabulary and symbolism that resonated deeply with the themes of grief and human emotion. The choreography highlighted the use of contraction and release, symbolizing the intense inner turmoil of the dancer. Each movement was crafted to express angularity and stylized gestures that conveyed feelings of despair. The dancer's body position, particularly the way she leaned and reached for help, vividly illustrated her emotional state, encapsulating the essence of grief in a way that was strikingly innovative for its time.
Step 3
Evaluate how the music enhanced the theme of Lamentation.
Answer
The music for Lamentation developed in three distinct stages, each contributing to the emotional narrative of the piece. Initially, the score was dissonant, echoing the conflict and turmoil of the dancer's experience. As the dance progressed to its peak, the music built tension as the dancer confronted her reality. Finally, the score subsided, reflecting a personal reconciliation with grief. This effective interplay between choreography and music heightened the emotional impact of Lamentation, making it a poignant expression of human struggle.
Step 4
Martha Graham is often referred to as 'the mother of contemporary dance'.
Answer
Martha Graham's contributions to modern dance are monumental. Her distinctive technique, characterized by the principles of contraction and release, revolutionized movement and established a foundation for contemporary dance. Graham's innovative choreographic ideas and vocabulary have influenced generations of dancers and choreographers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the body's expressive capabilities. She created a legacy that not only shaped the landscape of dance but also expanded the artistic expression of emotional and physical narrative.