Article Project in Movement for a Divine Comedy (Ballet choreographed by Martha Graham) Chorus Movement for a Dance Drama

Detail from [Martha Graham and Dance Group, Bennett School, March 29, 1930] [concert program]

Performed without music, Project in Movement for a Divine Comedy, (also known as Chorus Movement for a Dance Drama), premiered on January 11, 1930, at New York's Maxine Elliott's Theatre. (The work, with music by Carl Ruggles, was a substitution for Portals. It was performed on January 8 and was not listed on the program.) The work was performed by Martha Graham and Group in a concert of the Dance Repertory Theatre. Graham joined dancer/choreographers Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and [Helen] Tamiris to form the Dance Repertory Theatre. The goal was "to give annually a season of continuous dance programs which will be representative of the art of dance in American and will give native artists an outlet for their creative work." The New York Herald Tribune (January 9, 1930) declared the work to be "a fine, spiritually conceived suggested design which we shall hope to see often and study at greater length."

Dance historians have noted that the work was retitled Salutation. According to a review in the New York Herald Tribune, the new title was used as early as the end of November 1932; however, Carlos Chávez is listed as the composer. A work by the name Salutation appears again in the Graham repertory in 1936, performed on April 7, 1936, in Los Angeles—to music by Lehman Engel.

About this Item

Title: Project in Movement for a Divine Comedy (Ballet choreographed by Martha Graham)
Other Title: Chorus Movement for a Dance Drama
Alternate Title: Chorus Movement for a Dance Drama
Subject Headings: - Chorus Movement for a Dance Drama; - Project in Movement for a Divine Comedy; - Articles; - Songs and Music
Genre: article
Additional Metadata Formats: METSXML Record

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