Unit Overview:
This unit is dedicated to exploring the work of Martha Graham, one of the most innovative and celebrated dance artists of the 20th century.
The Innovative Voice provides background to help students grasp the complexities of Graham’s creative designs and perceive specific ways she fits into the context of 20th century cultural change through new themes and forms of arts expression.
Landscapes of the Mind focuses on specific choreographies in which Graham explores the emotional and psychological "landscapes" of women, including literary figures.
Graphs of the Heart continues emphasis on Graham’s study of these "inner landscapes" of women. This segment concentrates on Graham’s use of ancient Greek myths, legends, and Greek Tragedy to build her dance-drama profiles.
Graham's Appalachian Spring: A Study suggests ways to explain Appalachian Spring—considered the premier achievement of Martha Graham’s choreographies based on American themes. Throughout the lessons, consideration is given to ways that study of Graham’s work can illuminate learning in other disciplines.
Lesson Overviews:
Students will examine four of Martha Graham's key dance-dramas, and learn about the symbolic and mythological sources, and the relationship of set design and collaboration to the choreography and narrative of Graham's work.
Students will learn about the structures and themes of seminal Martha Graham works, create movement combinations using elements from Graham choreographies, and synthesize their exploration in written journals and assessments.
Students will study Martha Graham's seminal work, Appalachian Spring,analyze the historical themes, and explore the relationship of the music and the set design to the structure of the choreography and narrative.
Students will explore four of Martha Graham's choreographies inspired by women, and analyze the expression of emotion and structure of narrative through written and verbal assessment.
