The subject of the datedness of Martha Graham’s TV production of Clytemnestra was brought up by an audience member during the Q&A session held by a few of the original cast members from the televised performance. In our composition class, we were asked about how we saw Graham and her pieces that were made so long ago. Were they outdated, out of style, or old news? After thinking about it for some time, I would say that Martha Graham’s revolutionary work was so far ahead of its time that we are still grasping at understanding the depth of the work even today. It has impacted so many dancers’ lives that maybe do not appreciate or understand it because they don’t connect her technique with anything they have ever learned. But the fact is that it is legendary work, still valid and still full of life.
When I finally took the time to really look at the scope of Graham technique, its meaning, and its repertoire, I too became an obsessive advocate for everything the Company stands for. It’s like when you hear a song that you think is so amazing but later on hear the original and are disappointed but intrigued. It’s refreshing and humbling to see the real creators of that music and what you take from it is pure appreciation for the artists who set the foundation of something so groundbreaking. You learn that originality and substance will always be timeless.
