[ Back to Contemporary ] -> [ Back to Storm Dog ]

Links to Learning More

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 Copland).

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