PHILADELPHIA, PA: Martha Graham Dance Company at Society for Classical Studies/Archaeological Institute of America
Company:
Martha Graham Dance Company
The Martha Graham Dance Company will present two of Graham’s Greek-themed masterpieces at the 2025 Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)/Society for Classical Studies (SCS) Joint Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. This performance, part of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100th Anniversary celebrations, offers a unique opportunity to experience performances inspired by Greek myth. The event is designed to engage both scholars attending the annual meeting and the local community.
A large part of the American artist Martha Graham’s prodigious and revolutionary body of work has been inspired by the stories and culture of the ancient Greeks. Living in the 20th century and the time of women’s emancipation, Graham turned to Greek myth to explore the psychology and emotions of women. Graham found particular interest in the female heroes of Greek tragedy. She imagined myths from the point of view of women and developed unforgettable renditions of Medea, Jocasta, Clytemnestra, Ariadne, Phaedra, Circe, Hecuba, Cassandra, Iphigeneia, Electra, and Helen.
Performances of Cave of the Heart (1946), Graham’s retelling of the myth of Medea, and Errand into the Maze (1947), a dance that draws on the myth of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur, will be followed by Q&A with the performers and with MGDC Artistic Director Janet Eilber. The Q&A will be moderated by SCS Public Engagement Coordinator and Professor of Classical Studies at College Year in Athens (CYA), Nina Papathanasopoulou, whose scholarly expertise focuses on Graham’s engagement with Greek myth.
The event has been organized by Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, James Ker and Nina Papathanasopoulou, both members of the Committee on Classics in the Community, and is made possible by the SCS, the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Classical Studies. Additional organizational support was provided by Kelsey Skordal, SCS’s Communications and Services Coordinator, and Cherane Ali, SCS’s Director of Meetings.
The performance will take place on Saturday, January 4, 2025, from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.
In addition to the performance, the SCS will host a panel titled “Dance and Myth: The Reception of the Greeks by Martha Graham.” This panel will explore Martha Graham’s interpretation of Greek myths and will take place earlier on the same day—Saturday, January 4, 2025— from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM during the Joint Annual Meeting which is held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The panel will feature academic papers as well as discussions with directors and performers. Those interested in attending the panel can register for a one-day registration for the conference at the AIA/SCS 2025 Joint Annual Meeting Registration page. More information about the panel can be found on the Society for Classical Studies 2025 Annual Meeting webpage.
EVENT INFORMATION
Martha Graham Dance Company
Saturday, January 4, 2025
8 - 10pm
Suzanne Roberts Theatre
480 S Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
https://philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/
Introductory Remarks by:
James Ker, Ph.D., Professor of Classical Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Nina Papathanasopoulou, Ph.D., Professor of Classical Studies, College Year in Athens
Janet Eilber, Artistic Director, Martha Graham Dance Company
Errand into the Maze (1947)
Cave of the Heart (1946)
The performance will be followed by a post-performance discussion with directors and artists.
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