Description

A major biographythe first in three decadesof one of the most important artistic forces of the twentieth century the legendary American dancer and choreographer who upended dance propelling the art form into the modern age and whose profound and pioneering influence is still being felt today

Brings together all the elements of Grahams colorful lifewith wit verve critical discernment and a powerful lyricismMary Dearborn acclaimed author of Ernest Hemingway

Time magazine called her the Dancer of the Century Her technique used by dance companies throughout the world became the first longlasting alternative to the idiom of classical ballet Her pioneering movementspowerful dynamic jagged edgy forthrightcombined with her distinctive system of training were the epitome of American modernism performance as art Her work continued to astonish and inspire for more than sixty years as she choreographed more than 180 works

At the heart of Grahams work movement that could express inner feeling

Neil Baldwin author of admired biographies of Man Ray Truly definitive absolutely fascinating Patricia Bosworth and Thomas Edison Absorbing gripping a major contribution to our understanding of a remarkable man and a remarkable era Robert Caro gives us the artist and performer the dance monument who led a cult of dance worshippers as well as the woman herself in all of her complexity

Here is Graham from her nineteenthcentury born in 1894 Allegheny Pennsylvania childhood to becoming the star of the Denishawn exotic ballets and in 1926 at age thirtytwo founding her own company now the longestrunning dance company in America

Baldwin writes of how the company flourished during the artistic explosion of New York Citys midcentury cultural scene of Erick Hawkins in 1936 fresh from Balanchines School of American Ballet a handsome Midwesterner fourteen years her junior becoming Grahams muse lover and eventual spouse Graham inspiring the next generation of dancers choreographers and teachers among them Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor

Baldwin tells the story of this large fiercely lived life a life beset by conflict competition and lonelinessfilled with fire and inspiration drive passion dedication and sacrifice in work and in dance creation