Reviews of some of her performance...the 25 Recommendation by Amazon.com are hereunder slide show...Martha Graham - An American Original in Performance
& Martha Graham Dance on Film - (The Criterion Collection)
Martha Graham - An American Original in Performance
Martha Graham is always breathtakingThis videotape is a tribute to one of the greatest dancers and choreographers of the 20th century. It is done in black and white and actually, this makes it even better, for it serves to concentrate attention on the dance forms and the many abstractions that so characterize the Graham technique. There are three parts of the tape: 1. "A Dancer's World", which is...Martha Graham - An American Original in Performance
Martha Graham is always breathtaking, July 31, 2001By Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA)
This review is from: Martha Graham: Martha Graham - An American Original in Performance
This videotape is a tribute to one of the greatest dancers and choreographers of the 20th century. It is done in black and white and actually, this makes it even better, for it serves to concentrate attention on the dance forms and the many abstractions that so characterize the Graham technique. There are three parts of the tape: 1. "A Dancer's World", which is 30-minutes long and shows Graham and her company demonstrating dance expression and techniques. Viewers can see Graham in the dressing room, in the studio, and dancing herself. 2. "Night Journey", which is my all time favorite piece by Graham. Graham dances the part of Jocasta, Paul Taylor as Tiresais, and Bertram Ross as Oedipus. 3. "Appalachian Spring", which is the most popular of Graham's works, is accompanied by the music of Aaron Copland.
All of the parts exemplify the mystery and majesty of this pioneer of modern dance. Graham is unrelenting in her expression, things are never subtle in her dances, and she always (delightfully) comes across with an overabundance of passion. Given the length of time she actually performend on stage, one can only feel a deep sense of respect and awe at this incredible woman.
Dance as the Hidden Language of the Soul, July 21, 2005By Nicholas Croft (New York)
This review is from: Martha Graham - Martha Graham - An American Original in Performance
Martha Graham is commonly recognized as one of the most important contributors to the art of American dance during this past century. She realized significant innovations in the fields of choreography, dance performance, lighting, stage design, costuming and also commissioned new music from contemporary composers for her various works.
Graham was born in Pennsylvania in 1894. In 1910, she witnessed a performance by Ruth Saint-Denis and decided that she wanted to become a dancer. After some preliminary theater and dance studies at the University of Cumnoch, in 1916 Graham enrolled in the Denishawn School, run by Ruth Saint-Denis and Ted Shawn. For the next eight years, Graham thrived at Denishawn as both a student and an instructor. The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance was opened in 1926 and by 1939, her modern dance company began touring the United States and Cuba. After some thirty years of prolific activity, at the age 76, Martha Graham announced her retirement from the performance stage.
This Kultur DVD, "Martha Graham: In Performance", features three works choreographed specifically for black and white film camera during the years 1957, 1961 and 1958. It begins with a 30-minute demonstration film, "A Dancer's World", where Ms. Graham introduces the viewer to her company and gives an intimate glimpse into the exercises that precede the performance of a dance piece.
Next come "Night Journey" and "Appalachian Spring", two different works of "dance for camera". Alexander Hammid, a husband of experimental filmmaker Maya Deren, directed "Night Journey". The camera is used as an integral component of the stage choreography; with different viewing angles and camera positions only being possible by staging particular short sequences within the choreography, then editing the segments together to form a smoothly flowing whole. "Appalachian Spring" is a cinematic interpretation for Graham's choreography of a Quaker wedding. It will likely remain as one of her best-remembered works.
All three films document well the signature Graham dance style that consists of abrupt contraction and release of different parts of the body; the intimate relation of the dancer's breathing to emotion and movement; positions of austere, angular body line; and close dancer proximity to the ground.
"Martha Graham: In Performance" is a film document of significant historical importance. Any self-respecting fan of dance should own a copy of this DVD to aid in their personal study, and reflection on, one of the great artist's of our time.
Outstanding and Beyond Expectations, May 20, 2008By Ivan D. Cortes (Miami FL or Santiago Chile)
This review is from: Martha Graham Dance on Film - (The Criterion Collection)
(DVD)This DVD was absolutely outstanding for me (unfamiliar with modern dance) and exceeded my wife's expectations (very knowledgeable and familiar with modern dance). The reasons for this very positive impression were: Martha herself narrates and explains the whole DVD, the film producer also provides insights into Martha's life and personality, and original dancers performing the original productions.
Very enjoyable either as an expert or as a beginner.
Very good set of films, November 4, 2007By Ted "Ted" (Pennsylvania, USA) -
This review is from: Martha Graham Dance on Film - (The Criterion Collection)
This release by the Criterion Collection is atypical of what they release but is very good. In it is a documentary by Martha Graham,"A Dancer's World" and two dance sequences that she choreographed. They are "Appalachian Spring" and "Night Journey". I have little knowledge of ballet and am not the best person to review them but given, Graham's prestige, I can assume that they are of high quality.
There are many special features on the two disc box set which are very good also.
Disc one contains the three films, a comparison of the version of Appalachian Spring presented here with an older version narrated by Deborah Jewett, an archival interview with Aaron Copland discussing Appalachian Spring, an audio essay by Nathan Kroll with a slideshow about Graham, a new interview with Ron Simon, head of Museum of Television and Radio, and interviews with editors, Eleanor Hamerow and Miriam Arsham.
Disc two contains a 1994 PBS documentary on Graham titled "Martha Graham: The Dancer Revealed", interviews with six of the dancers from the films, senes from a 1975 dance demonstration narrated by Graham, and footage of Graham's company on a 1954 tour of Europe.
This is a must buy for the ballet enthusiast.
Excellent Resource, January 9, 2009By Joyce Sanders (Virginia)
This review is from: Martha Graham Dance on Film - (The Criterion Collection)
Wonderful! These 2 DVDs allow you to watch 3 performances and listen to commentaries on them afterwards. These commentaries help you to understand the meanings of the movements in the dances. There is even older footage of Appalacian Spring which is compared to the newer version which I found interesting. I was particularly interested in Martha Graham's techniques, and there is some filming of some of those with her voice narrating and explaining them. It is a treat to hear her speak. For people interested in the filming aspect of the performances and others at that time period, it is neat to hear what Nathan Kroll has to say on that subject.
Thank God for Film, October 30, 2010By Henry Magoo "Paper Carrier" (Central Coast California)
This review is from: Martha Graham Dance on Film - (The Criterion Collection)
This lady was a true icon. I am so happy that her performances were preserved for us not so fortunate to see her in person. Each replay of this disc brings a new detail previously missed. Recommend this for all dance buffs.
The Memory to Martha Graham, Slideshow of her 25 great value from Amazon.com
Martha Graham ประวัติ ผู้บุกเบิกท่าเต้นรำสมัยใหม่
วันนี้ (11 พฤษภาคม 2554) เป็นวันครบรอบวันเกิดปีที่ 117 ของ Martha Graham นักออกแบบท่าเต้นชาวอเมริกัน ผู้บุกเบิกการเต้นรำสมัยใหม่
จบการศึกษาจากโรงเรียนสอนเต้นรำที่ชื่อว่าเดนิสชอว์ ( Denisshaw ) จัดตั้งโดย รู๊ท เซนต์ เดนิส ( Ruth St. Denis )และสามีนักเต้นรำของเธอ เท็ด ชอว์ ( Ted Shawn )ซึ่งเป็นชาวอเมริกัน ในปี ค.ศ. 1914 ที่เมืองซานตา บาบารา รัฐแคลิฟอร์เนีย
Acts of Light: Martha Graham in the Twenty-first Century
มาร์ธาเกิดในมลรัฐเพนซิลวาเนีย ในครอบครัวของผู้ที่เคร่งในศาสนาคริสต์ฝ่าย โปรแตสแตนต์ ซึ่งใช้การปกครองโดยพระที่มีสมณศักดิ์เท่ากันหมดและเป็นผู้ที่เคร่งศาสนาในแบบเดียวกันกับคนอังกฤษ ที่ไม่เห็นด้วยกับวิธีการของศาสนาทางราชการในสมัยพระนางเจ้าอลิซาเบธที่ 1 ครอบครัวของเธอจึงได้ย้ายมาที่อเมริกา สิ่งนี้เป็นผลสะท้อนเอาความเข้มงวด ความเคร่งขรึมแสดงออกมาในงานของเธอ ความขัดแย้งระหว่างการรับผิดชอบชั่วดี กับความปรารถนาในอารมณ์แฝงอยู่ในงานหลายชิ้นของเธอ เธอได้สอดแทรกเอาอารมณ์ของความร้ายกาจอย่างขมขื่นกับการสะกดกลั้นความรู้สึกอันเกี่ยวข้องในลัทธิความเชื่อส่วนตัวของเธอไว้ในงานของเธออย่างแยบยล และที่สำคัญเธอยังได้พยายามแสดงให้คนดูเห็นหรือบอกความในใจถึงเรื่องจริงในชีวิตของเธอให้ปรากฏออกมาในงาน ซึ่งพ่อของเธอได้ให้คำยืนยันว่าเธอได้กระทำเช่นนี้ต่อเนื่องมาตั้งแต่เด็กแล้ว...อ่านต่อ
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