Martha Graham on Fifth Avenue

On June 18, 2015, Village Preservation unveiled a plaque in collaboration with The New School, honoring the legacy of Modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. The plaque was placed at 66 Fifth Avenue, where Graham’s company rehearsed and forged new performances in the 1930s and 40s. See images of the unveiling here and a video here.

Graham created groundbreaking dance with her company while in residence at 66 Fifth Avenue. Many of her greatest works were created while she was working in this studio space. 

Called “the Picasso of dance” and “a prime revolutionary in the arts of this century and the American dancer and choreographer whose name became synonymous with modern dance” by The New York Times, Graham had her first dance studio at 66 Fifth Avenue. Starting off as an all-female dance company, it was while located here that Graham first integrated men into her work and school. It was during the time that the company was at 66 Fifth Avenue that Graham began her lifelong creative collaboration with Isamu Noguchi, the famed sculptor. 

The following pieces, c

Lamentation (1930)

Lamentation is an early solo work by Graham, recognizable by its costume: a purple jersey tube that hugs the dancer’s body and creates sculptural curves between their limbs. The piece is brimming with tension, both in the dancer’s energetic force and in the struggle between dancer and costume. The tension and struggle evoke the essence of grief.

Lamentation premiered in New York City on January 8, 1930, at Maxine Elliot’s Theater, with music by the Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály. Though it is an early piece, it is considered to be one of Graham’s most iconic works.

Frontier (1935)

Frontier is an exploration of the “pioneer woman” in the United States, and her vision and independence. It displays her strength and tenderness, her determination and jubilation at overcoming the hazards of a new land, as well as her love of the land. Frontier was originally an ensemble piece and was then adapted to be a solo, which is how it is best known. 

This was the first Graham piece for which sculptor Isamu Noguchi created set pieces. For Frontier, Noguchi created a sparse set, with a rough log fence in the center of the stage and two large stretches of rope, shaped in V shapes on either side of the stage. 

The piece premiered on April 28, 1925, at the Guild Theater in New York City.

Appalachian Spring (1944)

Following similar themes to Frontier, Appalachian Spring depicts the story of a young frontier couple on their wedding day. Choreographed as the war in Europe was coming to a close, the piece is a snapshot of Americans’ collective optimism for a more prosperous future. Themes from American folk culture are woven into the piece, including the Shaker tune “Simple Gifts” in the score and square dance patterns in the choreography.

Isamu Noguchi again created a minimalist set, this time featuring a Shaker rocking chair and the frame of a frontier home. The piece premiered on October 30, 1944, in Washington D.C.

Cave of the Heart (1946)

Cave of the Heart, originally titled Serpent Heart, is loosely based on the Greek tragedy Medea. It stars anti-hero Medea, granddaughter of the sun, and tells a story of the destructive power of love. 

Isamu Noguchi created sets and costumes for this work, including an awe-inspiring cage-like gown of spikes, which Medea dons as she slowly goes mad with love and jealousy throughout the piece. 

Cave of the Heart was first performed in 1946 at Columbia University and officially premiered on February 27, 1947, at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York.

To learn more about Martha Graham, check out another one of our recent blogs HERE. To learn more about our historic plaque program, click HERE.