Martha Graham: 1895-1991

Modern dancer

Martha-4Allegheny City SocietyBorn in Allegheny City, she became a pupil of Ruth St. Denis. She broke with the rigid conventions of ballet of the 19th century, moved to New York City, and formed her own dance company. As one of the world’s most prominent dance innovators, her inspired choreography of “Cave of the Heart” and “Appalachian Spring,” is still a standard of many dance companies.