Country of Origin United States
Description Radical Graham opened BAM’s 1994 Next Wave Festival, and celebrated Martha Graham as one of the pivotal artists in the next wave of her own time – the modernist movement of early 20th century art. Advance publicity situated her in the company of her avant-garde contemporaries Picasso, Joyce, and Stravinsky. The two-week BAM engagement by the Martha Graham Dance Company was part of a larger, international centennial celebration of Graham’s birth. Since Graham had died just a few years before, it helped preserve her dances at a juncture that was critical for her company. Radical Graham showcased Graham’s early work, from 1929 through 1958. The work was presented in five different programs featuring 18 pieces, including pieces from her early “long woolens” period as well as her Greek and American periods. This provided audiences the opportunity to see early works that had rarely been performed in later years. It also introduced some controversial changes: “Lamentation,” traditionally a solo, was performed by three women dancing in unison; “Celebration,” created in 1934 when the company was all-women, now included men. The performances were accompanied by live music from the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra.
Identifier 1994f.00565
