Graham technique
Style of modern dance / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Graham technique is a modern dance movement style and pedagogy created by American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (1894–1991).[1] Graham technique has been called the "cornerstone" of American modern dance, and has been taught worldwide.[2] It is widely regarded as the first codified modern dance technique,[3] and strongly influenced the later techniques of Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, and Paul Taylor.[4][5][6]
Graham technique is based on the opposition between contraction and release, a concept based on the breathing cycle which has become a "trademark" of modern dance forms.[7][8] Its other dominant principle is the "spiraling" of the torso around the axis of the spine.[9] Graham technique is known for its unique dramatic and expressive qualities and distinctive floorwork;[1][10] dance critic Anna Kisselgoff described it as "powerful, dynamic, jagged and filled with tension".[11]
The phrase "Graham technique" was registered as a trademark before Graham's death, and was the subject of a trademark dispute in the early 2000s.[12]