Shenis considered by some the Picasso of Dance!
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nMarthanGraham (who was born on this date in 1894) helped to create a new eranin modern dance. Modern dance rejects some of the rigid choreographynand costuming of traditional ballet and focuses more on torsonmovements. It’s also known for occasionally using distinctlynnon-ballet feet with flexed, not pointed, toes.
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nOh,nand (often) dancers dancing with bare feet!
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nHerenare some impressive facts about Graham:
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nShen danced and choreographed for more than seventy years!
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nShen was the first dancer ever to perform at the White House.
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nShen received the highest non-military award of the U.S., then Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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nShen received the Key to the City of Paris and Japan’s Imperial Order ofn the Precious Crown.
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nShen was named Dancer of the Century by Peoplen magazine.
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nAnnamazing quote from Graham:
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nIfnyou want to be great, but you’re not sure you are, or that you evernwill be, remember what Martha Graham told another dancer:
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n“Therenis a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that isntranslated through you into action, and because there is only one ofnyou in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it,nit will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. Thenworld will not have it. n
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nItnis not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nornhow it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keepnit yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do notneven have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keepnyourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep thenchannel open…. n
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nNonartist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time.nThere is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest thatnkeeps us marching….”
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nHere is a video of a Graham-choreographed dance.
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nPlannAhead…
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards of Maynholidays, historicalnevents in May,nand Maynbirthdays.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nBirthday of the first known “Siamese twins”
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nAnniversarynof the first printed book (maybe)
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