Research Catalog

Martha Graham six generation seminar : beta 2

Title: Martha Graham six generation seminar : beta 2, May 19, 1988 / hosted at the Asia Society ; choreography by Martha Graham.
Publication: 1988.

Details

Additional Authors

Found In

Contained in (manifestation): Martha Graham Dance Company collection.

Description

16 online resources (16 video files) (315 min., 35 sec.) : sound, color

Summary

A full day seminar of the Martha Graham technique held at The Asia Society on May 19, 1988. The program consists of multiple panels, speeches, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions. Speakers on the topic of Martha Graham and her technique included Beate Gordon, Dorothy Bird, Anna Sokolow, Ailes Gilmour, Sophie Maslow, Jean Erdman, Marie Marchowsky, Jane Dudley, Lily Mehlman, Yuriko, Helen McGehee, Douglass Watson, Mark Ryder, Stuart Hodes, Ted Dalbotten, Pearl Lang, and David Wood; a panel discussion, moderated by Mason, was also held, in which Thea Nerissa Barnes, Lyndon Branaugh, Christine Dakin, Peggy Lyman, Peter Sparling, Janet Eilber, Takako Asakawa, and Diane Gray participated. In addition the remarks of Gertrude Shurr were read by Mason, and the remarks of Evelyn Sabin were read by her daughter, Elena Mannes. The footage from this camera, Beta 2, captures the very beginning of the seminar, which is not captured on beta 1.

Alternative Title

Six generations of Martha Graham technique
Martha Graham seminar at the Asia society

Subjects

Genre/Form

Lectures.
Panel discussions.
Filmed dance.
Filmed performances.
History.

Note

Title from videocassette label.
Two cameras were used to capture the event. For full coverage of the seminar, both camera angles should be viewed. Full coverage of the event is also available as an audio recording.
Cast and production credits from the program for the event dated May 19, 1988.
Patrons can access streaming video file online only onsite at the Library for the Performing Arts.

Credits (note)

Todd Randall, production manager ; Jim McWilliams, carpenter ; David Finley, lighting director ; Eugene Lowery, company manager

Performer (note)

Martha Graham ensemble: Yuriko, (director), Asmundur Asmundsson, Sophie Courmanos, Silvana Eder, Vivien Eng, Adria Ferrali, Katy Haltiwanger, Lisa Heath, Laura Jimenez, Naoko Katakami, Lone Kjaer Larsen, Sheron Lynne Neverson, Noreen Pietri, Suzanne Saltmarsh, Thomas W. Sullivan, William Wagner, Anne Westwick.

Event (note)

Recorded at the Asia Society in New York, NY on May 19, 1988.

Contents

File 1: Beate Gordon introduces the seminar, 60 years of Graham technique, and speaks about Martha Graham's illustrious career including her support of Asian artists; Francis Mason speaks about Graham as a great choreographer, teacher, and dancer; the nature of the current seminar and how it will be conducted; introduces the [first group of] speakers: Dorothy Bird, Anna Sokolow, Ailes Gilmour, Sophie Maslow, Jean Erdman, Marie Marchowsky, Jane Dudley, and Lily Mehlman; Mason reads aloud Gertrude Shurr's reminiscences about Graham and Louis Horst including her first classes for adults and Shurr's description of the development and codification of Graham technique including her first use of contraction and release [cuts off]. (21 min., 13 sec.) -- File 2: continuation of Francis Mason reading aloud Gertrude Shurr's reminiscences. Dorothy Bird speaks about her classes with Graham in Seattle, Wash. in which Graham worked out choreography for the dance interludes in the play Seven against Thebes. Dorothy Bird demonstration includes two members of the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble: Naoko Katakami and Sheron Lynne Neverson. (20 min., 8 sec.) -- File 3: continuation of Dorothy Bird presentation and demonstration. Anna Sokolow reminisces about first meeting Graham and Horst and how revelatory their classes were. Ailes Gilmour speaks, briefly, about her background and about taking classes with Martha Graham at the Neighborhood Playhouse and joining her company [Martha Graham Dance Company] in 1929; working on Graham's works Heretic, Primitive mysteries, and Dark meadow; the many collaborations between her brother Isamu Noguchi, and Graham; their performances at Radio City Music Hall. Francis Mason introduces and narrates Barbara Morgan photographic slides from Bennington in 1938 (slides are not viewable from this camera) [cuts off]. (21 min., 19 sec.) -- File 4: continuation of Francis Mason narrating photographic slides by Barbara Morgan. Elena Mannes reads a statement from her mother, Evelyn Sabin, about taking classes with Martha Graham. Sophie Maslow reminisces about taking class with Graham. Six members from the ensemble and advanced class demonstrate movements Maslow had learned from Graham, accompanied by piano music and Maslow's comments. Jean Erdman reminsces about her classes with Graham and other members of her company; joining the company and her first performance; Graham and the use of turn-out [cuts off]. (20 min., 28 sec.) -- File 5: continuation of Jean Erdman presentation. Marie Marchowsky reminisces about classes with Graham and with Horst, and Graham technique; the effect of the introduction of men into the company. [Stage rearrangement for panel discussion.] (19 min., 31 sec.) -- File 6: panel discussion with Dorothy Bird, Anna Sokolow, Ailes Gilmour, Sophie Maslow, Jean Erdman, Marie Marchowsky, Jane Dudley, and Lily Mehlman. Jane Dudley reminisces about Martha Graham and her early performances; Lily Mehlman speaks about Graham and Leonide Massine and Massine's Le sacre du printemps [The rite of spring]; Sophie Maslow speaks, briefly, about teaching Graham technique in Israel. The panel is cut short to prepare the stage for a film presentation [not shown]. An ensemble performance of Celebration, with music by Louis Horst performed by Lorenthomas Francis. (19 min., 39 sec.) -- File 7: Francis Mason introduces the afternoon session of the seminar and the second panel participants: Yuriko, Helen McGehee, Douglas Watson, Mark Ryder, Stuart Hodes, Ted Dalbotten, David Wood, and Pearl Lang. Yuriko reminisces about Martha Graham including first seeing Graham and her company perform as well as her first performances with the company; speaks about Graham technique including different kinds of contractions and various positions Graham required of her dancers. Helen McGehee speaks about dancing in Graham's company including certain aspects of the techniques employed for particular roles [cuts off]. (19 min., 25 sec.) -- File 8: continuation of Helen McGehee presentation. Douglas Watson reminisces about his brief experience as a dancer in Graham's company and how Graham's technique has helped him as an actor including examples from the plays Antony and Cleopatra and Richard III. Mark Ryder reminisces about his experience as a dancer in Graham's company including his observations about falls being only to the left and the change over time in the female dancers' bodies [cuts off]. (19 min., 23 sec.) -- File 9: continuation of Mark Ryder presentation. Stuart Hodes speaks about his experience as a dancer in Graham's company including his reading aloud his description, which he had written earlier, of an advanced class he took in 1947 [cuts off]. (19 min., 24 sec.) -- File 10: conclusion of Stuart Hodes presentation. Ted Dalbotten tells several anecdotes arising from classes with Graham at the Neighborhood Playhouse. David Wood speaks about Graham's choreography and male dancers primarily with reference to various specific works. David Wood's presentation includes a demonstration by a member of the dance company: Christopher Dolder. (19 min., 32 sec.) -- File 11: conclusion of David Wood presentation. Francis Mason introduces Pearl Lang; Lang speaks about Graham and Graham technique based on her experience as a dancer in Graham's company. Pearl Lang's presentation is interspersed with performance pieces including Jocasta's solo from Night journey by Terese Capucilli assisted by Lyndon Branaugh and a short piece of choreography as taught in a class setting and performed by the ensemble. Pearl Lang begins to introduce the red duet from Diversion of angels [cuts off]. (20 min., 54 sec.) -- File 12: performance of the red duet from Diversion of angels performed by Kathy Buccellato and Kenneth Topping. Multiple demonstrations of choreographed components as taught in a class setting and performed by the ensemble. Conclusion of Pearl Lang presentation. Francis Mason introduces Diane Gray, director of the Martha Graham school [Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance]; Gray leads a class of students from the school who demonstrate various aspects of Graham technique, with piano accompaniment. (19 min., 49 sec.) -- File 13: continuation of Diane Gray presentation and narrated demonstration performed by the ensemble and company members. (20 min.) -- File 14: conclusion of Diane Gray presentation. Francis Mason, as moderator, introduces the participants in the panel discussion: Thea Nerissa Barnes, Lyndon Branaugh, Christine Dakin, Peggy Lyman, Peter Sparling, Janet Eilber, Takako Asakawa, and Diane Gray. Mason states the first topic for discussion by the panel: Graham technique as a technique or system that is the equal in formality to the system of ballet technique. The second topic for discussion, which is then taken up by the panel: how roles were learned in the past and how they are learned now [cuts off]. (20 min., 2 sec.) -- File 15: continuation of panel discussion with Peggy Lyman, Janet Eilber, Peter Sparling, Christine Dakin, Takako Asakawa, Thea Nerissa Barnes, and Lyndon Branaugh. Mason states a third topic regarding the use of Graham technique in their own choreographic work. After the panel, Francis Mason speaks with a group of children at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance about their experience as students there and their response to the demonstrations at the seminar. (19 min., 55 sec.) -- File 16: conclusion of panel with young dance students. Conclusion of the seminar with a performance of Ritual to the sun from Acts of light by the Martha Graham ensemble. (14 min., 53 sec.).

OCLC

1368025689

Title

Martha Graham six generation seminar : beta 2, May 19, 1988 / hosted at the Asia Society ; choreography by Martha Graham.

Production

1988.

Country of Producing Entity

United States

Playing Time

002113 002008 002119 002028 001931 001939 001925 001923 001924 001932 002054 001949 002000 002002 001955 001453

Type of Content

two-dimensional moving image

Type of Medium

computer

Type of Carrier

online resource

Digital File Characteristics

video file

Credits

Todd Randall, production manager ; Jim McWilliams, carpenter ; David Finley, lighting director ; Eugene Lowery, company manager

Cast

Martha Graham ensemble: Yuriko, (director), Asmundur Asmundsson, Sophie Courmanos, Silvana Eder, Vivien Eng, Adria Ferrali, Katy Haltiwanger, Lisa Heath, Laura Jimenez, Naoko Katakami, Lone Kjaer Larsen, Sheron Lynne Neverson, Noreen Pietri, Suzanne Saltmarsh, Thomas W. Sullivan, William Wagner, Anne Westwick.

Performer

Martha Graham Dance Company members: Lyndon Branaugh, Kathy Buccellato, Mario Camacho, Terese Capucilli (principal), Christopher Dolder, Daniela Stasi, Kenneth Topping, Myra Woodruff, Young Ha Yoo.

Panelists: Francis Mason (moderator), Dorothy Bird, Anna Sokolow, Ailes Gilmour, Evelyn Sabin, Sophie Maslow, Jean Erdman, Marie Marchowsky, Jane Dudley, Lily Mehlman, Helen McGehee, Douglas Watson, Yuriko, Mark Ryder, Stuart Hodes, Ted Dalbotten, David Wood, Linda Hodes, Pearl Lang, Peggy Lyman, Janet Eilber, Peter Sparling, Christine Dakin, Takako Asakawa, Thea Nerissa Barnes, Lyndon Branaugh.

Event

Recorded at the Asia Society in New York, NY on May 19, 1988.

Added Author

Graham, Martha, choreographer.

Container of (work): Graham, Martha. Celebration.

Container of (work): Graham, Martha. Acts of light. Ritual to the sun.

Container of (work): Nielsen, Carl, 1865-1931. Helios.

Horst, Louis, composer.

Nielsen, Carl, 1865-1931, composer.

Gordon, Beate, 1923-2012, speaker.

Mason, Francis, 1921-2009, speaker, moderator.

Bird, Dorothy, 1912-1996, panelist.

Sokolow, Anna, panelist.

Gilmour, Ailes, panelist.

Sabin, Evelyn, panelist.

Maslow, Sophie, panelist.

Erdman, Jean, panelist.

Marchowsky, Marie, 1916-1997, panelist.

Dudley, Jane, panelist.

Mehlman, Lily, panelist.

McGehee, Helen, panelist.

Watson, Douglass, 1921-1989, panelist.

Yuriko, 1920-2022, panelist.

Ryder, Mark, 1921-2006, panelist.

Hodes, Stuart, panelist.

Dalbotten, Ted, panelist.

Wood, David, 1925-2002, panelist.

Gray, Diane, 1941- panelist.

Hodes, Linda Margolies, 1933- panelist.

Lang, Pearl, 1921-2009, panelist.

Lyman, Peggy, panelist.

Eilber, Janet, panelist.

Sparling, Peter, panelist.

Dakin, Christine, panelist.

Asakawa, Takako, panelist.

Barnes, Thea, panelist.

Branaugh, Lyndon, panelist, dancer.

Capucilli, Terese, dancer.

Buccellato, Kathy, dancer.

Camacho, Mario, dancer.

Dolder, Christopher, dancer.

Stasi, Daniela, dancer.

Topping, Kenneth, dancer.

Woodruff, Myra, dancer.

Yoo, Young-Ha, dancer.

Asmundsson, Asmundur (Dancer), dancer.

Courmanos, Sophie, dancer.

Eder, Silvana, dancer.

Eng, Vivien, dancer.

Ferrali, Adria, dancer.

Haltiwanger, Katy, dancer.

Heath, Lisa, dancer.

Jimenez, Laura (Dancer), dancer.

Katakami, Naoko, dancer.

Larsen, Lone Kjaer, dancer.

Neverson, Sheron Lynne, dancer.

Pietri, Noreen, dancer.

Saltmarsh, Suzanne, dancer.

Sullivan, Thomas W. (Dancer), dancer.

Wagner, William (Dancer), dancer.

Westwick, Anne, dancer.

Finley, David, lighting designer.

Randall, Todd (Production manager), production manager.

Francis, Lorenthomas, musician.

Martha Graham Dance Company, dancer.

Asia Society, event place.

Martha Graham Dance Company, donor.

Found In:

Contained in (manifestation): Martha Graham Dance Company collection.

Other Form:

Equivalent (manifestation): Martha Graham six generation seminar : beta 1. 11 online resources (11 video files) (179 min., 5 sec.) : sound, color (OCoLC)1368025680

Equivalent (manifestation): Martha Graham seminar at the Asia Society. 8 audio discs (approximately 321 min.) : digital (OCoLC)778783978

Electronic reproduction of (manifestation): Martha Graham six generation seminar : beta 2. 16 videocassettes (315 min., 35 sec.) : sound, color ; 1/2 in. (SPEC AMI ID)529306 (SPEC AMI ID)529307 (SPEC AMI ID)529308 (SPEC AMI ID)529309 (SPEC AMI ID)529310 (SPEC AMI ID)528022 (SPEC AMI ID)529311 (SPEC AMI ID)528029 (SPEC AMI ID)528030 (SPEC AMI ID)528031 (SPEC AMI ID)529312 (SPEC AMI ID)529313 (SPEC AMI ID)529314 (SPEC AMI ID)528015 (SPEC AMI ID)528016 (SPEC AMI ID)528017 (OCoLC)1368025182

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