Harsh, angular, spectacularly horrific—how could you not be fascinated? When Martha Graham first began to create dances in the 1920s, audiences were far from thrilled. Her work was a jolt to all who took for granted that dancers must flutter, soar, or defy gravity. The trademark pelvic contractions and rough floor work that permeated her dances created a stirring aesthetic unlike any of the glamour-clad work that came before and it indelibly changed everything that came after.

Although Graham is perhaps the most celebrated performer of her own work, her company is also exceptional in the number of former members who went on to become well-known choreographers themselves in the latter half of the 20th century. These include Merce Cunningham, Elisa Monte, Paul Taylor, Jacqulyn Buglisi, and Pascal Rioult. Certainly, this is one reason her influence on contemporary dance has been so pervasive.