JACKSON, Wyo. — A legend will come alive as one hundred years of history dance across the stage. Dancers’ Workshop is honored to present the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company at the Center Theater for their Summer Gala and Community Performance on July 26 and 27.

The Martha Graham Dance Company (MGDC) has been a leader in the evolving art form of modern dance since its founding in 1926 by legendary choreographer Martha Graham, who created her unique dance technique that has been compared to ballet in its scope and magnitude. 

Except from Martha Graham Dance Company in CAVE by Hofesh Shechter, co-produced by Studio Simkin. 

Graham’s approach to dance and theater revolutionized the art form. Today, the Company dancers hail from across the globe, adding their own contemporary flairs to the core values and vision that built the oldest dance company in the United States. 

“The company has been part of the American conversation for 100 years — we needed at least three seasons to dive in,” said Janet Eilber, MGDC Artistic Director, to the New York Times. “We want audiences to have new points of access to the classics of modern dance, so they can recognize it as something relevant to themselves and to our current times.”

Eilber’s direction as artistic director has focused on creating new forms of audience access to Graham’s masterworks. These initiatives include contextual programming, educational and community partnerships, use of new media, commissions from today’s top choreographers and creative events.

Martha Graham Dance Company in new work by Hofesh Shechter, co-produced by Studio Simkin. Photo: Brian Pollock.

“GRAHAM100—The First and The Future,” the three-season celebration of the Graham Company’s 100th anniversary, is one such initiative. This showcase will feature not just performances and new productions, but exhibitions, film screenings, publications, discussions and educational activities that build on the Company’s legacy of innovation as they tour across the world. GRAHAM100’s theme is curated under “Dances of the Mind,” focusing on Martha Graham’s psychological works, her multifaceted women characters and her longtime artistic partnership with renowned visual artist Isamu Noguchi. The Company will be performing pieces from GRAHAM100 during its two nights of shows on the Center stage this July. 

“People should come expecting to see some of the most expressive and powerful dancers in the world today,” Eilber said of the 3-year schedule in the same New York Times article. “The dancers on stage today are jaw-droppingly beautiful and will launch this celebration in ways that are essential to dance itself.” And The Washington Post confirmed, these are “some of the most skilled and powerful dancers you can ever hope to see.”

“We are so grateful for the opportunity to share the incredible legacy of Martha Graham,  a company embedded in the history of modern dance,” said Babs Case, Artistic Director for Dancers’ Workshop. “Dance is such a diverse artform with many different expressive styles. To present excellence in all different forms of dance is so important – it brings culture, innovation, education and beauty to our community…that’s what we love to do at DW!”

So Young An and Lorenzo Pagano in Martha Graham’s “Errand into the Maze.” Photo: Dragan Perkovski.

For those interested in exploring the Martha Graham Technique a little further, Dancers’ Workshop is pleased to present a one-day, introductory workshop. This Saturday morning class will be taught by Contemporary Dance Wyoming member Charlotte Landreau, who performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company for nearly a decade before finally settling in Wyoming and finding her home at Dancers’ Workshop. Introduction to Martha Graham Technique will take place July 20 – learn more and sign up here. 

The Martha Graham Dance Company will perform at the Center Theater Friday, July 26 for the Gala (Get Tickets) and Saturday, July 27 for the Community Performance (Get Tickets). Make a gift to Dancers’ Workshop here.