- Early Life: Martha Graham was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1894. Her father was an orthopedic surgeon and her mother was a homemaker. Graham began dancing at the age of twelve, studying under Ruth St. Denis, one of the pioneers of modern dance.
- Career Beginnings: In 1916, Graham moved to New York City to pursue a career in modern dance. She performed in various companies and began to develop her own unique style of movement. In 1926, she founded her own dance company, the Martha Graham Dance Company, which became one of the most influential modern dance companies in the world.
- Martha Graham Technique: Graham developed her own technique of dance, known as the Graham technique. This technique emphasizes the use of contraction and release, spiral movements, and deep lunges to create a sense of power and expression.
- Choreography: Graham's choreography is characterized by its intense emotionality, psychological depth, and use of innovative movement patterns. She created over 180 works, including iconic dances such as "Lamentation" (1930), "Appalachian Spring" (1944), and "Clytemnestra" (1958).
- Collaboration: Graham collaborated with many notable artists, including composers such as Aaron Copland and Louis Horst, and visual artists such as Isamu Noguchi and Robert Rauschenberg.
- Legacy: Graham revolutionized modern dance and influenced generations of dancers and choreographers. She was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Graham died in New York City in 1991 at the age of 96.