MOdule 5
martha Graham technique
Today’s dancers need to be incredibly versatile. The mother of all modern dance is Martha Graham. Her technique is fortifying, dramatic, and powerfully engages the center. Ballet dancers are drawn to the defined structure of this method, as taught by stars of the Martha Graham Dance Company.
Take 4-5 of the classes below, then fill out this form to complete the module and gain entrance to our monthly Zoom meeting.
1: Beginner Graham Modern with Blakeley White-McGuire
The first of four classes in this Fundamentals of the Martha Graham Technique of Modern Dance will introduce you to the basic principles of movement necessary for learning and developing the work of modern dance. For the Graham technique especially, movement comes from the pelvis, from the torso, from the center of the house of the being. Blakeley will guide you through a series of exercises and movement practices designed to awaken and engage the center of the being. The next three classes will continue to build on the principles established in this first lesson.
Teacher: Blakeley White-McGuire
Dancers: Kate Reyes and Meagan King
3: Beginner Graham Modern with Blakeley White-McGuire
The third of four classes in this Fundamentals of the Martha Graham Technique of Modern Dance series will continue to dive deeper into the three principles of the Graham technique: breath through contraction and release, shift of weight or movement in space, and spiral -- the very DNA that we are made of.
Teacher: Blakeley White-McGuire
Dancers: Kate Reyes and Meagan King
4: Beginner Graham Modern with Blakeley White-McGuire
The fourth and final class in this Fundamentals of the Martha Graham Technique of Modern Dance series encourages dancers to activate their artistry and go forward to develop their physical work in modern dance. Blakeley promises the primary exercises learned across the four classes are not exhaustive, but can certainly be used to grow and progress to using more advanced classes and to learn more about the modern dance canon.
Teacher: Blakeley White-McGuire
Dancers: Kate Reyes and Meagan King
2: Beginner Graham Modern with Blakeley White-McGuire
The second of four classes in this Fundamentals of the Martha Graham Technique of Modern Dance series will continue to build on the basic principles of modern dance introduced in class 1. Harnessing the energy of the pelvis and torso remain foundational as the exercises build deeper awareness and connection between the body and the earth. The next two classes will take these principles further.
Teacher: Blakeley White-McGuire
Dancers: Kate Reyes and Meagan King
Intermediate Graham Modern Dance
Intermediate Graham Modern with Natasha Diamond-Walker is a 46 minute online dance class. Martha Graham Dance Company soloist Natasha Diamond-Walker shares her wisdom on the Graham technique and teaches a class sure to help you craft your artistry and inspire your soul as a mover.
Music: Stahv Danker
Dancers: Sierra Sanders, Anne Souder, and Larissa Aki Terada