Acts of Light: Martha Graham in the 21st Century.Acts of Light: Martha Graham in the 21st Century Photographs by John Deane, text by Nan Deane Cano. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2006. 120 pp. 53 color photos. Cloth, $39.95. Acts of Light is a pictorial look at Martha Graham's choreography choreography Art of creating and arranging dances. The word is derived from the Greek for “dance” and “write,” reflecting its early meaning as a written record of dances. as presented by the 21st-century Martha Graham Dance Company. John Deane, who has been the company photographer since 2002, presents 18 classic works in photographs that capture the stark, emotionally expressive quality of the choreography as performed over the past three years. It's hard to look at this book without thinking of Barbara Morgan's Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs, the book that documents Graham's early career in stunning black and white stills. Unlike Morgan Morgan, American family of financiers and philanthropists. Junius Spencer Morgan, 1813–90, b. West Springfield, Mass., prospered at investment banking. , who let the photographs do the talking, this book is narrated page by page by Nan Cano, Deane's sister, with brief, poetic descriptions of the dances and interviews with current company performers. Dancers such as former artistic directors Terese Capucilli Terese Capucilli is an American modern dancer best known for her work with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Capucilli was one of the dancers to revive Martha Graham's lead roles after Graham went into retirement in the 1960s. and Christine Dakin Da·kin , Henry Drysdale 1880-1952. British chemist noted for his study of antiseptics. He developed Dakin's solution, which was widely used in treating wounds during both World Wars and is still used as a disinfectant. give their intimate thoughts on performing. The title doesn't lie--the focus is on Graham and the dancers who carry on her work. But one misses a sense of history. There is no mention of those who helped to shape the dances, like Sophie Maslow Sophie Maslow (March 22, 1911 - June 25, 2006) was an American choreographer, modern dancer and teacher, and founding member of New Dance Group. Born in New York City in 1911, Sophie Maslow began her dance training with Blanche Talmud at the Neighborhood Playhouse School. , Erick Hawkins Erick Hawkins (April 23 1909 - November 23 1994) was an American dancer and choreographer. Born in Trinidad, Colorado a graduate of Harvard, he was a student of George Balanchine. He became a soloist and the first male dancer in Martha Graham's dance company. , and Jane Dudley. As a result, the book comes across as a promotional piece, focusing on what audiences can expect to see from the company without knowing where it all came from. However, the photos are indeed full of light and reveal a great legacy. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion