“I used to want the words ‘She tried’ on my tombstone. Now I want ‘She did it.” -Katherine Dunham A movement pioneer, Katherine Dunham brought forth the use of ethnic choreography in a European dominated dance world. As a young girl born and raised in Chicago, Katherine spent her time singing in church and earned her…
“What we are fighting for, especially my generation, is that dance is in and of itself a beautiful thing.” -Lucinda Childs As a child, Lucinda set out to be an actress and dancer. She trained under many great dancers, including Hanya Holm, Merce Cunningham, and Yvonne Rainer. She joined the Judson Dance Theatre in 1963, where she…
“No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time; it is just that others are behind the times.”-Martha Graham A truly American dancer, Martha Graham took on the essence of American life, tribulations, and triumphs within her movement that is based upon the raw and expressive human body. “A dance reveals the spirit…
“The dancer’s body is simply the luminous manifestation of the soul.” -Isadora Duncan Known as the “Mother of Modern Dance,” Isadora Duncan was a revolutionary whose influence spread around the globe. Her style of dancing embraced the notion of free-spiritedness coupled with Ancient Greek ideals of beauty, philosophy, and humanity. She brought a totally new…
Dance Legends Recaptured 