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Martha Graham

Ariel’s Daddy compares her to this iconic pioneer of dance and I meant it as tribute to her wonderful individuality and unconventional creativity. In 1926, Graham opened her studio and created a new genre of performance art—modern dance. Finding traditional story-ballet too physically rigid and limited in expression, she devised new techniques and innovative poses that were more angular, sculpture-like, and emotive. Inspired by modern painting, Native American dance-ceremonies, Greek mythology, and the American frontier, she would create 181 ballets over a 70-year-career, including Appalachian Spring (with composer Aaron Copeland).

Scroll to the bottom of this biography and you will see Martha Graham’s choreography for Appalachian Spring and her performing the role of the bride. https://interlude.hk/coplands-ballets-billy-kid-rodeo-appalachian-spring/.

More about Martha Graham:

https://loc.gov/collections/martha-graham/about-this-collection/?lolcr=blogloc

https://marthagraham.org/history/

Jazz great, Duke Ellington

The legendary big-band leader, composer, and pianist inspired generations of musicians, including Stevie Wonder in his song, “Sir Duke,” which so inspires our girl, Ariel.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duke-Ellington

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/duke-ellington-about-duke-ellington/586/

https://www.pbs.org/video/weta-neighborhoods-duke-ellingtons-dc/

https://www.pbs.org/video/duke-ellington-american-music-v7dnwg/

https://www.pbs.org/video/history-detectives-duke-ellington-plates/

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/jazz-ambassadors/video/duke-ellington-plight-african-americans-american-music/

And one of my personal heroes, Bobby McFerrin, on the power of music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk&fbclid=IwAR19hbjc9WX94soSEr-IJrv5p368Aeva-7KE3uruk3ozEXCoRt8D10KHn6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81uJZIF9TCs

Ariel’s country:

Sky Meadows State Park (one of my favorite places in the world!) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afizGJmrPAY