Dance is one of the most exciting forms of art. Dancers must have both athletic strength and artistic grace while being able to understand the power of music. This is a highly unusual combination of talent, and few dancers achieve these skills at the highest level.
Within dance, ballet is one of the most demanding forms of the art, as well as one of the most evocative. Martha Graham was one of the few gifted people capable of combining all of these dazzling skills within the world of ballet. Always seeking to move the art form to a higher level, Martha, as she was commonly known, collaborated with the famous composer Aaron Copeland to create an altogether new ballet for the United States. Danced on the sets created by the world renowned stage designer, Isamu Noguchi, this amazing ballet was named "Appalachian Spring."
Martha Graham wanted to make a ballet that broke away from the traditional boundaries of toe shoes, tutus and pirouettes. She wanted something to capture the spirit of the United States.
After a number of starts and failures, Martha and Aaron Copeland came across the old Shaker hymn "It is a gift to be simple; it is a gift to be free." That was it, the song that described the American spirit. Immediately, Martha began designing the dance steps as Copeland began composing the music.
Since this type of ballet had never been performed, she had to work out the ballet by trial and error. Since the ballet was original, the dancers wore clothes from the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. No one had ever considered such an idea before. Noguchi had never created dance stages resembling the western Pennsylvania countryside, and the finished sets seemed odd to the ballet dancers. artha finally decided to make the entire ballet center on a young farmer and his bride on their wedding day. After months of practice, the world premiere was performed October 30, 1944.
How was this entirely new way of creating a ballet received by the public? Why did the excitement and simple beauty of the work move the public so powerfully?
Have you ever danced? Would you like to perform a dance that demands grace of traditional ballet and the exuberance of country square dance?
Why does "Appalachian Spring" so speak to the American experience? To find out, go to the library and check out "Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring" by Jan Greenberg.
This title won the Sibert Honor Medal for Nonfiction in 2011. The illustrations show the exuberance of Martha Graham’s famous ballet. Greenberg and Jordan write about the difficulties encountered by the ballet dancers, musicians and set designers throughout the creation of this work of art.
Middle-grade students will have their fine arts knowledge enhanced by the authors’ explanation of these challenges. Though a picture book, the subject matter in the text is more appropriate for middle grade students. While the book could be read aloud, I think it would be more useful for students to read the work in a small group. Then they could together share their feelings and responses. The subject of dance may seem foreign to some students and a group learning session might help them understand the subject in a wholesome way. I hope you encourage your sons and daughters, nieces and nephews to read this fine title. "Appalachian Spring" artistically shows the zest of the American spirit through dance and I hope you like the title. Enjoy!
