Martha Graham

Hello! My name is Martha Graham, and I spent my life telling stories, not with words, but with my whole body. When I was a little girl, my father, George Graham, was a doctor. He used to tell me, "Martha, movement never lies." At first, I didn't understand, but he showed me how our bodies can show our feelings even when our mouths are quiet. If you are sad, your shoulders might droop. If you are excited, you might jump up and down! I loved watching people to see what stories their bodies were telling. One day, I went to see a famous dancer named Ruth St. Denis. She moved across the stage like magic, and her dancing told a beautiful story without a single word. In that moment, watching her, a feeling like a little spark lit up inside me. I knew right then, deep in my heart, that I had to become a dancer, too.

As I grew up and started to dance, I noticed that most dancers moved in a very light and floaty way, like fairies skipping through a field. It was beautiful, but it didn't feel like me. I had big, strong feelings inside me—like the feeling of being very happy, very sad, or even a little bit angry. I wanted to show those feelings when I danced. So, I decided to create a whole new way of moving! I thought about where our feelings come from, deep in our bellies. I called my new style 'contraction and release.' Imagine pulling all of your energy into your center, making yourself small and tight—that's contraction. Then, imagine letting all that energy burst out in a big, strong movement—that's release! It was a very different kind of dance, sharp and powerful. In 1926, I opened my own dance school and company in New York City so I could share my new ideas and teach other dancers how to show their true feelings when they moved.

My dancers and I told so many stories together. Can you believe I created over 180 different dances in my life? Each one was a story about people, history, or powerful emotions. One of my most famous dances is called 'Appalachian Spring.' It tells the story of a young couple on the American frontier, building their first home and dreaming about their future. I didn't just dance the steps; I used my whole body to show their hopes and their strength. I danced on stage until I was 75 years old, and I taught other dancers for almost my entire life. I wanted everyone to know that their body is a wonderful tool for telling stories. Your movements can show the world who you are and what you feel. Everyone has a special story inside them, and you can dance it out for everyone to see.