Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Scottsdale

The legendary Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Scottsdale on March 21, 2025, for its 100-year celebration. Diandra Adamczyk, Performance Programmer at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the impact of Martha Graham and what the company will be doing to celebrate.

Graham’s groundbreaking and uniquely American style of dance has influenced generations of artists and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. 

As part of its GRAHAM100 celebration, Martha Graham Dance Company’s program will feature two new works, “CAVE” and “We the People,” alongside one of Graham’s most celebrated pieces, “Appalachian Spring Suite.”

Graham’s style of dance is the oldest dance company in the U.S., and Graham is often referred to as the mother of modern dance, explained Adamczyk.

“She was one of the first to break the rigid rules of ballet and create her own form of movement that was really expressive and embodied human spirit and emotions. And created a whole new technique called the Graham technique that is still practiced and taught today,” Adamczyk said.

“It’s really exciting becuase Graham has over 100 works of her own, but recently, to celebrate their centennial, they have commissioned new choreographers to create new work for the company,” Adamczyk said.

Adamczyk explained there is not one set technique that dancers use, and there isn’t one meaning that viewers are supposed to take away after the experience.

“So it’s really your interpretation of the piece, and there’s a lot of humanistic elements that get brought in. And it’s really a reflection, you know, what we’re dealing with today as people,” said Adamczyk.