"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open."
About Martha Graham
Martha Graham — Life and Legacy
Martha Graham was a transformative figure in American dance, renowned for her unique approach that emphasized the emotional and psychological aspects of movement. She developed a technique that broke away from traditional ballet, focusing instead on the body's natural expressiveness and the power of the human experience. Her famous quote, 'Dance is the hidden language of the soul,' encapsulates her belief that movement can convey profound truths about our inner lives. Graham's work often explored themes of struggle, identity, and the complexities of human emotion, challenging the norms of her time and paving the way for future generations of dancers. Through her choreography, she addressed societal issues and personal conflicts, making her performances deeply resonant and relevant. For instance, her piece 'Appalachian Spring' reflects themes of hope and renewal, showcasing her ability to translate complex narratives into physical form. Graham's legacy continues to influence not only dancers but also artists across various disciplines, as her insights into authenticity and expression remain vital in today's artistic landscape.
Quote collection
Martha Graham quotes (page 1 of 7)
126 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Our arms start from the back because they were once wings."
"Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion."
"The body says what words cannot."
"I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired."
"Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it."
"I feel that the essence of dance is the expression of man--the landscape of his soul. I hope that every dance I do reveals something of myself or some wonderful thing a human can be."
"The body is a sacred garment. It's your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor."
"The main thing, of course, always, is the fact that there is only one of you in the world, just one, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost. Ambition is not enough; necessity is everything."
"Dance is the hidden langauge of the soul, of the body."
"Misery is a communicable disease."
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion."
"No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a strange, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."
"What people in the world think of you is really none of your business."
"All that is important is this one moment in movement. Make the moment important, vital, and worth living. Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused."
"Stand up! Keep your backs straight! Remember that this is where the wings grow."
"Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart."
"Dance is communication, and so the great challenge is to speak clearly, beautifully and with inevitability."
"You see, when weaving a blanket, an Indian woman leaves a flaw in the weaving of that blanket to let the soul out."
"No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time; it is just that others are behind the times."