What will you witness? A set of dance programs that explore the inner workings of the human mind.

Founded in 1926 by pioneering choreographer Martha Graham, this modern dance company is one of the oldest and most celebrated in America. Graham’s innovative body of work stands alongside that of Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky, George Balanchine, and Coco Chanel as a pillar of 20th-century Modernism. Her company has performed all over the world, including at the base of the Great Pyramids and in the ancient Herod Atticus Theatre on the Acropolis. The Martha Graham Dance Company has nurtured many choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, Paul Taylor, Pascal Rioult, and U-M’s Peter Sparling, whose film montage opens Friday’s program. The Saturday evening performance brings back the work of Robert Wilson (Einstein on the Beach), who created a magical evocation of Graham as an artist, using abstract forms and movements to recall the American images that gave meaning to her work and her life.

Program: Inner Landscape
A program including some of Graham’s psychological dances, growing out of her fascination with the life of the mind, interpersonal relationships, and the use of symbols to express human feeling. It brings together the work of several choreographers to illuminate a theme that captured the imagination of artists as modern dance developed, and continues to provide inspiration for those working today.

Beautiful Captives: Martha Graham and the Cinematic Id
      A Film Montage by Peter Sparling with music by Eric Santos

Witch Dance (1914) 
      Choreography: Mary Wigman

Every Soul Is a Circus (1939) 
      Choreography: Martha Graham
      Music: Paul Nordof, Decor: Philip Stapp

Lamentation Variations (2009) 
      Choreography: Aszure Barton, Yvonne Rainer, Lar Lubovitch

Night Journey (1947) 
      Choreography: Martha Graham
      Music: William Schumann, Decor: Isamu Noguchi

Program Book [PDF]

Where does inspiration come from? What makes an artist tick? Join us for a post-performance Q&A and get a glimpse into the lives and minds of the artists that bring creativity to the stage. Must have a ticket to this evening’s performance to attend.

Also see
www.marthagraham.org

Martha Graham (1894-1991) was a pioneering choreographer whose modern dance company is the oldest (started in 1926) and most celebrated in America. Her innovative body of work stands alongside that of Pablo Picasso, Igor Stravinsky, George Balanchine, and Coco Chanel as pillars of 20th-century modernism.  Her company has performed all over the world, including the base of the Great Pyramids and in the ancient Herod Atticus Theatre on the Acropolis. The Martha Graham Dance Company has nurtured many choreographers of the 20th/21st centuries, including Merce Cunningham, Pearl Lang, Paul Taylor, Pascal Rioult, and Peter Sparling (who teaches at U-M Dept. of Dance, and whose film montage opens the Friday night program).

This season’s performances mark the 22nd UMS appearance for Martha Graham Dance Company. The Company last appeared as part of the 2006-2007 season.

Related UMS Education & Community Engagement Events

1/23: You Can Dance: Martha Graham
1/23: Too Sexy for Export?: Martha Graham and the US Department of State
1/25: Panel Discussion: Martha Graham In Retrospect: Legacies and Innovations

A selection from Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring