The Experience of a Lifetime: Martha Graham Dance Company

In less than a month, the Martha Graham Dance Company will take the Carlson Family Stage. With two evenings of varying repertoire, this company will leave a lasting impact on audiences as well as the larger Minneapolis arts community. Not only is “one of the great dance companies of the world”, as defined by the New York Times, coming to present in Minneapolis, but they will be setting a work on a number of University of Minnesota Dance Majors. This work, “Panorama”, will be in the mix of repertoire performed by the Martha Graham Dance Company.

As a Dance Major at the University of Minnesota, I am thrilled to say that I have been cast in this work. For years, I have read about and studied the work of Martha Graham, but I never imagined performing alongside the company that maintains her legacy as the mother of modern dance. I am so honored.

Created in 1935, “Panorama” is an excerpt from a piece rallying for social activism. Dressed in all red, we will march across the stage employing Graham’s signature sharp, angular, and direct movements.

“Panorama” will be performed as a part of Prelude and Revolt, a multimedia expression of the era when Martha Graham was beginning to revolutionize dance and theater. Graham’s notorious solo, Lamentation, has inspired various short works by top current choreographers and will be presented as Lamentation Variations. The infamous ballet and orchestral work, Rite of Spring, will jump off the pages of history books and onto the Carlson Family Stage.

You will also see the infinite aspects of love explored in a piece entitled Diversion of Angels, while Errand will highlight themes of Greek mythology. Finally, two recently created works by hot choreographers Nacho Duato (Rust, funded thanks to Kickstarter) and Andonis Foniadakis (Echo), will complete the eclectic repertoire of these two evenings’ performances.

For in-depth conversation about the work Martha Graham Dance Company will present, attend a performance preview with artistic director Janet Eilber in the Best Buy Theater at 6:45 pm on the night of the show.

Martha Graham Dance Company is one of many performances I have looked forward to this season. We’ve got another exciting year of dance lined up and ready to be announced on the opening night of Martha Graham Dance Company! Get ready for the 2015//16 Northrop Season!