The Martha Graham Dance Company captivates in return to Boston
The Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Boston for the first time in nearly two decades.
Photo Courtesy of Robert Torres for Celebrity Series of Boston
Martha Graham Dance Company
Contemporary Dance Showcase
Celebrity Series of Boston
Nov. 23, 2024
Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
After nearly two decades, the Martha Graham Dance Company returned to Boston and presented four pieces that represented the company over the past century. Opening with the original Graham work Dark Meadow Suite, the show moved to the humours Rodeo by Graham’s close friend Agnes de Mille, followed by the iconic 1930 Lamentation and We the People, which newly premiered in February of this year.
Created in 2016, the Dark Meadow Suite featured the highlights of Graham’s 1946 Dark Meadow and underlined Graham’s incorporation of ritualistic elements in her work, inspired by the rituals of the natives of the American Southwest and Mexico that she observed in her youth. Five dancers in a V-formation began the dance in a stage silent alongside the sounds of their own stomps as a lone woman, removed from the group, gazed upwards quietly and basked under a warm orange light.
Every movement in Dark Meadow Suite felt deliberate and purposeful, drawing from the rhythms and gestures of rituals. The dancers used cupped hands, flexed feet, and small, springing hops, creating a sense of connection and interdependence with each other, yet the choreography maintained a measured control that set it apart from the unrestrained energy of real-life rituals. This was ritual transformed for the stage — refined but no less evocative. The sparse music, a simple melody of violin and cello, was accented by the stomps of the dancers. As the tempo quickened, male dancers entered the stage and formed four duets with the women, occasionally shifting their weight as if they were dolls.
The tone shifted dramatically with Rodeo, a lighthearted celebration of 20th-century Americana. As one of the first large-scale stage performances to draw inspiration from folk dance traditions, such as tap and dances brought by immigrants, it broke new ground in modern dance. Movements such as barrel turns and lasso motions were incorporated in the more graceful manner of the modern dance style. The stage was bare of props, but the dancers’ colorful costumes, complete with cowboy hats and workwear-inspired designs, vividly evoked the spirit of rural America. At its heart, the piece told the story of a cowgirl navigating the challenges of individuality and femininity. Initially set apart for defying social norms, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately finding love without sacrificing her authenticity.
The mood turned somber with Lamentation, a brief yet deeply moving dance that portrayed grief in a physical form. Lasting less than four minutes, the piece featured a single dancer seated almost completely shrouded under purple fabric, with only their face, hands, and feet exposed. The fabric emphasized their tension as their hands gripped and pressed inward, conveying a desperate internal struggle. Alone in the spotlight, the dancer swayed, stretched, and twisted within the confines of the fabric. Even the piano reflected this anguish, sometimes pausing between notes as if searching for a correct key.
The evening concluded with We the People, a vibrant and distinctly contemporary piece which brought the program into the 21st century that premiered February of this year. The choreography was layered and dynamic, often featuring different movements happening simultaneously, yet harmonizing seamlessly across the stage. This gave the dance an almost musical-theater quality, which was reinforced by the costumes. The energetic group dances alternated with quieter solo interludes. During the solos, the stage fell silent, save for the sounds produced by the dance's own movements. We the People was a celebration of individuality within the community, and how protest and lament still exist underneath the guise of the American Dream.
Spanning nearly a century of innovation, the program highlighted the company’s profound ability to blend tradition with change. This performance not only honored Martha Graham’s legacy but also underscored the enduring relevance of her vision. From the controlled precision of Dark Meadow Suite, the lighthearted storytelling of Rodeo, the visceral emotion of Lamentation, and the vibrant complexity of We the People, the evening proved that modern dance continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in its history.