🇬🇷 Martha Graham and Greek Myth

« MARTHA GRAHAM AND GREEK MYTH »

A PROJECT COMBINING CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY AND AMERICAN MODERN DANCE

*Figure 1 Prof. Nina Papathanasopoulou and dancer Eleftheria Iliopoulou. Photo ©Dimitris Mamaloukos.*

“A unique performance which makes the audience feel like being part of a live documentary: bringing together Greek myth, women’s gaze on classic masterpieces, and Martha Graham’s ground-breaking approach to modern dance, Professor Papathanasopoulou weaves a fascinating narrative. The dancers – all rigorously trained in the Martha Graham technique – embody superbly women’s struggles and the intensity of their emotions. Professor Papathanasopoulou’s erudite and passionate account creates a mesmerizing universe where dance, Greek tragedy, women’s sorrow, light and shadows converse, a universe where “movement never lies”.
Dr. Rosa Vasilaki, Sociology Professor, College Year in Athens (CYA)/DIKEMES

Figure 2 In circle from left to right starting with dancer facing backwards on left: Natalia Kalogeropoulou, Androniki Vasili, Marianna Papakonstantinou, Ioanna Tzanimi, Vassia Kolliou, and Marianna Katsimpraki as “Furies” in Martha Graham’s Clytemnestra. Choreography by Martha Graham. Restaging by Penny Diamantopoulou. Photo ©Dimitris Mamaloukos.

“Martha Graham and Greek Myth” is a project combining classical philology and live dance to explore Martha Graham’s use of Ancient Greek mythology and the portrayal of Ancient Greek heroes in her work. It highlights Greece’s cultural heritage and underscores the immense influence of the Ancient Greeks on American modern dance and the arts.

Six of Graham’s Greek dances have been an integral part of Martha Graham Dance Company’s repertory to this day:

Cave of the Heart – 1946 (on the female heroine, Medea)
Night Journey – 1947 (on the myth of Oedipus and Jocasta)
Errand into the Maze – 1947 (on the myth of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur)
Clytemnestra – 1958 (on the myth of Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, Electra, and Orestes)
Phaedra – 1962 (on the myth of Phaedra, Theseus, and Hippolytus)
Circe – 1963 (on the female sorceress that appears in Homer’s Odyssey)
Another three draw on ancient myth and ritual more loosely:

Primitive Mysteries – 1931 (on religious mysteries performed by women)
Dark Meadow – 1946 (on rituals that explore self and community)
Rite of Spring – 1984 (on rituals related to the coming of spring)
Graham’s Greek-inspired works are rarely performed outside of the US as they require elaborate sets and costumes that are difficult to transport. This project thus provides a unique opportunity for audiences in Greece to learn about these stunning works and enjoy excerpts from them up close.

*Figure 3 Prof. Nina Papathanasopoulou during a Martha Graham and Greek Myth presentation. Photo ©Dimitris Mamaloukos.*

• By Who

Dr. Nina Papathanasopoulou (Phd in Classics, 2013, Columbia University), Classics professor at College Year in Athens (CYA), has conceived this innovative project. For the project Dr. Papathanasopoulou draws on a life-long love and study of the Graham technique and her scholarly expertise in Ancient Greek literature. Papathanasopoulou has published articles on Martha Graham’s re- envisioning of the myth of Medea and the myth of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur, and has given a number of presentations at conferences and colleges in the US, the UK, Portugal and Greece.

• An Essential Collaboration

To realize this project Dr. Papathanasopoulou collaborates with renowned Graham technique and repertory instructor in Athens, Penny Diamantopoulou. As a former soloist of the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble and Regisseur for the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Ms. Diamantopoulou has been teaching and restaging Martha Graham’s dances since 2002. This project has been realized with the support and permission of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in New York, which allows the use of rare photos and the restaging of dance excerpts. It has also been enriched by the generosity of past and present Graham company dancers who met with Dr. Papathanasopoulou to share their unique perspectives on Graham’s mythological roles.

Figure 5 Mara Tsourma, Vassia Kolliou, Marianna Tsikmanli, Eleftheria Iliopoulou, Marianna Papakonstantinou and Androniki Vasili as “Daughters of Night” in Martha Graham’s Night Journey. Choreography by Martha Graham. Restaging by Penny Diamantopoulou. Photo © Dimitris Mamaloukos.

• On Stage

“Martha Graham and Greek Myth” consists of a series of presentations on Martha Graham’s Greek-inspired works. Each presentation centers on a particular myth, work or theme and integrates live dance performances into an engaging and informative talk. Dr. Papathanasopoulou’s talks give an overview of Martha Graham’s technique and vision; examine Graham’s approach to Greek mythology and her use of Greek tragedy and epic; and explore her groundbreaking portrayals of the Greek heroes and their intense emotions – anger, grief, jealousy, fear, and revenge. During each presentation dancers perform arrangements of the Graham technique and excerpts from Martha Graham’s Greek-inspired works. The arrangements and dances are reconstructed by Penny Diamantopoulou and performed by professional dancers from Greece, all of whom are extensively trained in the Graham technique and repertory.

Ms. Diamantopoulou is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Papathanasopoulou on this project:

“Choreographing a composition that uses the Graham technique vocabulary and all its basic principles, as well as restaging excerpts of the Graham repertory, gives me a sense of fulfillment as a pedagogist. The audience, whether related to dance or not, understands the essence of this movement vocabulary and how it expresses all human emotion without becoming descriptive or derivative. But what exalts me as an artist, is witnessing how the audience, guided by Nina's clear, accessible and detailed analysis, gets drawn into Martha Graham's universe while watching live these masterpieces of modern dance. As a Graham dancer of the '90s, I was taught and coached by the previous generations of Graham masters. Passing on this wisdom and legacy to the next generations of younger dancers, and through them educating the audiences of today, that is my mission.”
Penny Diamantopoulou, Graham Technique and Repertory Instructor and Regisseur

*Figure 6 Penny Diamantopoulou coaching the dancers during a rehearsal of the Graham and Greek Myth presentations*

According to Dr. Papathanasopoulou, this interdisciplinary project combines the fields of classics and dance in order “to make academic analysis accessible and enjoyable to the public at large; to underscore the value of Greek myth and the Martha Graham technique; to highlight the contribution of Martha Graham and modern dance to the preservation and interpretation of ancient Greek culture; and to underline the influence of the Ancient Greeks on the arts worldwide.”

Figure 7 From left to right: Mara Tsourma, Marianna Tsikmanli, and Marianna Papakonstantinou (back row), Vassia Kolliou, Eleftheria Iliopoulou and Androniki Vasili (front row) as “Daughters of Night” in Martha Graham’s Night Journey. Choreography by Martha Graham. Restaging by Penny Diamantopoulou. Photo ©Dimitris Mamaloukos.

“I loved the performance so much. It gave me goosebumps. The explanation of how Martha Graham worked as a dancer and how she conceived the myths was breathtaking. I have never heard anyone in my entire life talk about ancient myths the way Dr. Papathanasopoulou expressed them. The dancing was INCREDIBLE. My favorite performance was Night Journey because I wasn’t expecting that much “aggression” from the dancers ... I was at the edge of my seat. Now, Martha Graham has to be one of my favorite artists! It was fascinating, and if I had the chance, I would see it again.”
Konstadia Pavlidi, Deree-ACG student

All photos used in the Martha Graham and Greek Myth presentations Courtesy of Martha Graham Resources

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For email communication contact ninapapathan@gmail.com