Description

<p>"Dancer of the Century," "Icon"... all superlatives have been used to describe Martha Graham. Her approach to dance and theater, and her innovative physical vocabulary, have irrevocably influenced dance worldwide. As prolific as she was complex, she created 181 ballets as a choreographer and a dance technique that has been compared to ballet in its scope and breadth.</p><p> During this tour, 18 dancers will perform both iconic works by Martha Graham and more recent ballets by contemporary artists, never before presented in France.</p><p> <strong>Two programs will be offered alternately.</strong><br><br> Program A consists of two masterpieces by Martha Graham: Cave of the Heart and Errand into the Maze, which feature two heroines from Greek mythology (Medea and Ariadne); and CAVE by Hofesh Shechter, where the choreographer takes hold of rave dance.<br><br> Program B also includes two major works by Martha Graham: Diversion of Angels and Chronicle, in which she tackles universal themes such as love and war; and We the People by Jamar Roberts, a reminder that the power of collective change belongs to the people.<br><br><br> PROGRAM A</p><p> • Cave of the Heart by Martha Graham (35 minutes)</p><p> Cave of the Heart is a study of the destructive powers of love, of the dark passions that cause the human heart, coiled like a serpent, to strike when attacked. In the myth, Medea, a sorceress, falls in love with Jason and uses her magical powers to help him obtain the Golden Fleece. Sacrificing everything she holds dear, she flees with him to Corinth. But Jason is ambitious and abandons Medea. Betrayed and exiled, Medea devises a plan that will end with the death of her rival, the princess, and the murder of her two children. The Chorus, foreseeing the impending tragedy, tries to prevent it and ultimately suffers its greatest consequences.</p><p> Ballet first presented on May 10, 1946 at Columbia University in New York.</p><p> • Errand into the Maze by Martha Graham (18 minutes)</p><p> There is a race through the labyrinth in the heart of darkness to confront and fight the Creature of Fear. There is the completion of the mission, the moment of triumph, and the exit from the darkness.</p><p> In Errand Into the Maze, Martha Graham tells the story from Ariadne's point of view, as she descends into the labyrinth to conquer the Minotaur. Substituting a heroine for the hero of Greek mythology in her dance, Martha Graham created a female protagonist who would confront the beast of fear not once, but three times, before finally overcoming it.</p><p> Ballet presented for the first time on February 28, 1947 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York.</p><p> • CAVE of Hofesh Shechter (25 minutes)</p><p> This energetic work by Hofesh Shechter originated from an idea brought to the Graham Company by international dance star Daniil Simkin. Daniil wanted to take dance from the techno club scene to a new level and find a way to integrate choreographed movement into a rave-like event. As a prelude to this broader idea, Hofesh Shechter was invited to create a dance for the front stage for Graham's dancers. The result is a visceral experience of collective movement, with a powerful, swirling, shared kinetic energy.</p><p> Ballet presented for the first time on April 6, 2022 at the New York City Center</p> To mark the company's centenary and after a 7-year absence from France, the Martha Graham Dance Company announces its grand return to the stage with a series of exceptional performances.