We look at the dance to impart the sensation of living in an affirmation of life, to energize the spectator into keener awareness of the vigor, the mystery, the humor, the variety, and the wonder of life. This is the function of the American dance. Martha Graham More Quotes by Martha Graham More Quotes From Martha Graham Stand up! Keep your backs straight! Remember that this is where the wings grow. Martha Graham dance body wings 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 ballet dance two 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 mediocrity sin dance You will only get out of a dance class what you bring to it. Learn by practice. Martha Graham practice class inspirational No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time; it is just that others are behind the times. Martha Graham dance wisdom motivational 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 communication believe art 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 frustration dance sleep Misery is a communicable disease. Martha Graham disease emotion attitude 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 motivation dance believe The spine is the tree of life. Respect it. Martha Graham spine dance tree 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 dance motivational inspirational I did not choose to be a dancer. I was chosen. Martha Graham chosen dancer dance 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 order lying years 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 patterns ends ideas The gesture is the thing truly expressive of the individual - as we think so will we act. Martha Graham gestures body thinking 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 dance practice believe 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 adequate storm technique It's not my job to look beautiful. It's my job to look interesting. Martha Graham beautiful jobs interesting 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 faces depression giving 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 dance inspirational thinking
