Freedom to a dancer means discipline. That is what technique is for -- liberation. Martha Graham More Quotes by Martha Graham More Quotes From Martha Graham A dancer, more than any other human being, dies two deaths: the first, the physical when the powerfully trained body will no longer respond as you would wish. After all, I choreographed for myself. I never choreographed what I could not do. I changed steps in Medea and other ballets to accommodate the change. But I knew. And it haunted me. I only wanted to dance. Martha Graham balletdancetwo I've relaxed my feelings about other companies performing my works. I have never in principle been against my ballets being danced by other companies. Rather, it is that we lack the time, space and money to insure that they are done well. To me, the only sin is mediocrity. Martha Graham mediocritysindance You will only get out of a dance class what you bring to it. Learn by practice. Martha Graham practiceclassinspirational No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time; it is just that others are behind the times. Martha Graham dancewisdommotivational I believe that dance was the first art. A philosopher has said that dance and architecture were the first arts. I believe that dance was first because it's gesture, it's communication. That doesn't mean it's telling a story, but it means it's communicating a feeling, a sensation to people. Martha Graham communicationbelieveart Dancing appears glamorous, easy, delightful. But the path to paradise of the achievement is not easier than any other. There is fatigue so great that the body cries, even in its sleep. There are times of complete frustration, there are daily small deaths. Martha Graham frustrationdancesleep Misery is a communicable disease. Martha Graham diseaseemotionattitude You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. Martha Graham motivationdancebelieve The spine is the tree of life. Respect it. Martha Graham spinedancetree Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can. Martha Graham dancemotivationalinspirational I did not choose to be a dancer. I was chosen. Martha Graham chosendancerdance It takes about ten years to make a mature dancer. The training is twofold. There is the study and practice of the craft in order to strengthen the muscular structure of the body. The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted. The movement become clean, precise, eloquent, truthful. Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it. This might be called the law of the dancer's life, the law which governs its outer aspects Martha Graham orderlyingyears When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then you have to follow that through to the end, and it's the following through to the end that makes the pattern. That, for me, is choreography. Martha Graham patternsendsideas The gesture is the thing truly expressive of the individual - as we think so will we act. Martha Graham gesturesbodythinking I believe that we learn by practice... it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which come shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. Martha Graham dancepracticebelieve You have no right to go before a public without an adequate technique, just because you feel. Anything feels - a leaf feels, a storm feels - what right have you to do that? You have to have speech, and it's a cultivated speech. Martha Graham adequatestormtechnique It's not my job to look beautiful. It's my job to look interesting. Martha Graham beautifuljobsinteresting If you feel depressed you shouldn't go out on the street because it will show on your face and you'll give it to others. Misery is a communicable disease. Martha Graham facesdepressiongiving Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It's a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle. Martha Graham danceinspirationalthinking What makes a great dancer is not technique. What makes a great dancer is passion. Martha Graham dancerpassiontechnique
