CriticalDance Forum

The board of the Martha Graham Company voted to suspend operations of both the dance company and its affiliated school, citing lack of funding:<P><BR>AP News Wire<BR> <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000526/aponline051639_000.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000526/aponline051639_000.htm</A> <P><BR>Washington Post<BR> <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10409-2000May26.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10409-2000May26.html</A> <P><BR>SF Chronicle<BR> <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/05/26/DD82938.DTL" TARGET=_blank>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/05/26/DD82938.D TL</A> <P><BR>CNN<BR> <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/05/26/arts.graham.reut/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/05/26/arts.graham.reut/</A> <P><BR>CNN Entertainment<BR> <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Arts/05/26/dance.company.ap/index.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Arts/05/26/dance.company.ap/index.html</A> <P><BR>And a NY Times story on the affected careers within the company:<BR> <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/graham-dance.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/arts/graham-dance.html</A> <P>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited May 27, 2000).]<p>[This message has been edited by Azlan (edited May 27, 2000).]

Very sad news! Not more I can say.

this is sad. this is not the only company with funding problems. everywhere it seems companies are struggling. does this have to do with reduced funds from the NEA. perhaps this situation with such a famous dance company will make some people take notice.

For a discussion of the Martha Graham repertoire crisis prior to this development, see
http://forum.criticaldance.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000035

<font size = -2><center>(Edited by salzberg to fix link)</center></font>

<small>[ 08-11-2002, 16:07: Message edited by: salzberg ]</small>

How sad...and hard to believe, that the legacy of such a major artist is being abandoned...it is something that you never even think could happen. I can remember studying at the Graham school in the 70's and 80's..it was such an "institution"!

An image to treasure:<P><BR> <BR>Appalachian Spring<BR>courtesy <A HREF="http://www.noguchi.org" TARGET=_blank>www.noguchi.org</A>

what is there to say? the students, in particular, must be devastated...

news from yahoo/reuters: <A HREF="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000526/en/stage-graham_1.html" TARGET=_blank>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000526/en/stage-graham_1.html</A>

One question. Will this be the end of the Graham technique? Are there teachers who teach this technique outside of the school? Will these teachers be allowed to teach if the school is closed?

Albrect-the Graham technique is "copyrighted"--ie. a teacher cannnot claim to teach "Graham technique" unless they are certified and passed through a codified training program. I don't know who controls that--perhaps Ron Protas. In the Reuters release, an anonymous source hints that the continuing legal rangles with the above person is also an issue....I still can't believe this is happening..what a nightmare! An entire repertory and artistic technique hangs in the balance....!

As a former employee of the Martha Graham Dance Company, the tragedy of the situation is sad but not unexpected. Her legacy will continue in ways unrelated to the Center because she had a supreme impact on the world of dance. Her technique lives in the bodies of everyone she trained and they will continue to pass on that tradition, even if it is not formally called Graham technique. It is commonly referred to as Graham-based technique and this is legally acceptable. This is not the end, this is just part of what the history will be.

colandrea, how great to get first hand information from you! <P>and i agree that there CAN'T be any end to the graham legacy, nor to graham technique-teaching, no matter what legal wrangles occur. <P>her effect was just far too great. it cannot be diminished by anything that happens now - although i suppose, the WORST case scenario is that this COULD mean, in the future, less exposure for her work, and therefore an eventual diminishment...<P>very pleased to have you at the board. are you, by any chance, one of the teachers of graham-based technique?<P>i had a GREAT graham teacher ('graham-based'/whatever/i don't care what they CALL it! ) - marilyn williams, an english royal ballet school graduate who performed with ballet rambert in london, then went to new york to study at the graham school, then back to rambert, eventually she taught in australia, then back in london, then in scotland - as well as teaching ballet for the Royal Academy of Dancing International Summer Schools. <P>she gave particularly wonderful BALLET classes, which were very much influenced by the graham technique! a marvellous influence in my life...actually, i've been wondering about her recently when i saw the name 'mason' with regard to the graham company debacle...her husband's name was mason, and he was a very respected arts administrator...i don't suppose this is the same person?

This is such sad news. The visit of the MGDC to London last year showed that the Company still has much to offer and has a generation of accomplished young dancers coming up to maintain this distinctive style of dance.<P>My impression in the UK is that Graham technique is not popular among students and that Cunningham and related techniques prevail currently. Thus it becomes difficult for other companies to perform the Graham works. Clearly the MGDC had a crucial role in this respect.<P>I can well believe that the central problem is Ron Protas. He clearly has a great talent for upsetting people, which is not the most useful skill in a fund-raiser. As we have noted elsewhere, the MGDC dancers perform as a group with other companies and perhaps they will be able to perform some of the Graham rep. to keep the spirit going, at least for a while. <P>Let's hope that even at this hour, Protas will put the Company and the Graham legacy first, for a change.

Hello everyone. <BR>My name is Tadej Brdnik and I am a dancer/soloist with Martha Graham Dance Company. I say I am, because I believe we should not give up. The legacy is too important for us to just sit and chat about how terrible this is and not do anything about it.<BR>I urge you all to spread the word and do whatever there is to help the Graham Company back on stage, where it belongs.<BR>Dancers of the Martha Graham Dance Company created an e-mail address (marthagrahamco@aol.com), where you can e-mail your concerns and ideas for further actions. <BR>With leaving your e-mail address, we will also inform you of our plans of actions.<BR>Help us preserving works of this American legend - Martha Graham.<BR>PS. As you noticed English is not my first language( not even second), so I am appologizing for tippos, I sure have created. <P>------------------<BR>Tadej Brdnik

Tadej, welcome to criticaldance and I only wish that it was under better circumstances. Many thanks for providing us with an insider's perspective on this key issue in the dance world. Like others here, I wish you and your colleagues in the Company my very best wishes in your endeavours to find a way out of the problems.<P>We will put our thinking caps on and e-mail you with any thoughts about how criticaldance might be able to help you and the other dancers.<BR><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited June 13, 2000).]