Women in the Performing Arts

Martha Graham

37-cent Martha Graham stamp
The Martha Graham stamp was issued May 4, 2004.

In the 1930’s and 1940’s Martha Graham (1894-1991) revolutionized the world of dance. Although she began dancing at the late age of twenty two, Graham quickly excelled at the art form and opened a dance company in 1929. Graham’s company differed from other ballet companies of the time by rejecting traditional methods of dance and by not wearing pointe shoes. Although Graham had her last performance at age seventy five, she continued to choreograph into her late seventies and early eighties. Because of Martha Graham’s unique style of choreography, she influenced the creation of a modern dance movement that is influential to this day.