AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARTHA GRAHAM'S MOVEMENT SYSTEM (1926–1991)

Abstract

When Martha Graham was interviewed a few months before her ninetieth birthday she remarked, 'I don't think about what I have done; I only think of the things that I want to do, that I haven't done' (Graham in Tobias, 1984:67). During a career that spanned more than sixty years and in which she produced over a hundred and seventy dances, Graham established her company as America's flagship for modern dance, performing in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House in 1976. It was the first modern dance company to appear at the Paris Opera in 1984 and in her ninety-sixth year, Graham undertook a tour ofAsia, where she had already achieved great popularity. Graham referred to herself as 'doom eager' or 'eager for destiny