CENTERblog

"It’s not just Modern…. Its Art..."
by Hannah Swanson - West High School

A legend of modern dance was performed Friday night at the PAC. Martha Graham Dance Company, from New York City, performed 5 famous pieces. This is the company’s 83rd year of existence, and first time performing in Alaska.

Jane Eilber, the Artistic Director of the Company, led a small series of history tid-bits before each piece, and explained the meaning of the story, the movements, and the characters in each dance. Martha Graham first started dancing with Denishawn Company in 1916. This is where she acquired the international influences demonstrated in all her pieces, and ever famous modern dance technique. The middle-east, India, and Greece were all major influences.

The first piece was really a combination of stories. It included, ‘the Incense’, ‘Gnossienne’ or a Priest, and ‘Tanagra‘(of Greek culture). The two women were dressed in flowy, Arabic style fabrics, and the man dressed in an Indian style turban, and red and gold arm bands. The three dancers each expressed a different style. The Incense had arm movements, curling and twisting like smoke. The Gnossienne had strong, flexed, stalled movements. The Tanagra had a fan and moved like a small bird, softly.

The second piece, ‘Serenata Morisca’, represented Martha’s time she spent with the Greenwich Village Follies. The solo dancer came out in a swirling sage skirt, and plenty of attitude. The jingling bells on her feet added certain emphasis to the choreography already full of high kicks, and quick turns.

The next piece was ‘Excerpts from Chronicle’, one of the most powerful pieces of the night. The first section was called ‘Steps in the Street’. This demonstrated the devastation, and exile caused by, at the time, World War 1. The intensity of jumps, flexed feet, and sharp hands, made it impossible to blink. The black costumes with high slits created a dark effect as the dancers did one legged turns. Most of the story was either portrayed thru the aspect of the army, or the desperation of the people.

The second section was ‘Prelude to Action’. This is the ‘answer’, instead of the war. To represent the unity, a soloist in a white, long-sleeved dress stood on-top a small stand comprised of three large circles, in center stage. The dancers previous, connected with the woman in white as she gave them hope. This was symbolized in choreography with lifts, and all 9 dancers dancing in unison. Once again, the Graham’s strong technique of flexed heels, and exasperated movements made the piece a strong statement, especially at that period in time.

The most anticipated piece of the night was performed after intermission. ‘Appalachian Spring’, tells the story of a pioneer woman, a husband and his newly wedded bride, along with a preacher and some town people. The piece had a pioneer spirit, not only in the choreography, but as well in the music. The Shaker tune, ‘Simple Gifts’ was a common phrase used in the 2nd half of the 9 minute piece. Originally called ‘Ballet for Martha’ the night ended with a standing ovation as the curtain closed.

Not only was the night a beautiful demonstration of a technique taken for granted, but it was an artistic view of the hardships during the time of war, loss, and struggle in the new west. A night of remembrance for a woman reviewed by critic that once said, her movements would make her “give birth to a cube."

Martha Graham Dance Company
Anchorage Concert Association
February 6, 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, Atwood Concert Hall