The author, a celebrated choreographer and a friend of Martha Graham for more than sixty years, traces Graham's life and career and discusses her training as a student, her early successes, and her development of a new language of dance
It's an autobiography by Agnes De Mille covering her whole dance career, and struggles as a dancer, choreographer and with pantomime. Covers many industry greats in LA in the1930s, Hollywood. Fascinating! Martha Graham tops it off with a quote at the end of book which is very inspiring, it’s about keeping the channel of creative energy, unique and open.
It's a very long read, and some of the timeline is organized in a confusing way. The style of writing and vocabulary is very different than what is currently used today, so much that I used a dictionary regularly while reading this book! However, Agnes' admiration and love for Martha shines through. It's also a great read if you want insight into a highly creative mind.
Bellissima lettura del 2007, consiglio questa biografia della grandissima danzatrice e coreografa Martha Graham a tutti gli appassionati di danza o a chiunque voglia approcciarsi a questa spettacolare disciplina che non si può non amare e che ti cambia la vita, malgrado tutto, senza se e senza ma. Provare per credere. 💞
What an exciting and fascinating biography! I knew little to nothing of Martha Graham, other than her amazing dances. Ms. DeMille, writing with adroitness, insight, tenderness and total honest brings her amazing subject to full life and leaves the reader breathless with awe at Martha the person, Martha the dancer, Martha the innovator, Martha the artist, Martha the genius and Martha the woman. Truly and extraordinary read!
A must-read for the modern dance lover. I am not, but I did enjoy Ms. DeMille's thoroughness of writing (to a point - I must admit that I skimmed over much of her descriptions of the dances in the last half of the book as I was more interested in Graham's life than her work).