| Artistic Director Janet Eilber | Executive Director LaRue Allen |
The Company
Lloyd Knight Xin Ying Leslie Andrea Williams
Anne Souder Laurel Dalley Smith So Young An
Richard Villaverde Devin Loh Antonio Leone
Meagan King Ane Arrieta Zachary Jeppsen-Toy
Amanda Moreira Jai Perez Ethan Palma
Major support for the Martha Graham Dance Company is provided by
Arnhold Foundation
Howard Gilman Foundation
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs In partnership with the New York City Council
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the New York State Legislature
National Endowment for the Arts
The Shubert Foundation
The Artists employed in this production are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists AFL-CIO.
In the tradition of its founder, the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance remains committed to being a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist organization, and will honor this pledge through its ongoing practices, policies and behaviors.
Copyright to all Martha Graham dances presented held by the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Inc.
All rights reserved.
For any questions about these
program notes, please contact:
Lauren Mosier, Company Manager
212.229.9200
companymanager@marthagraham.org
Choreography and Costumes by Martha Graham
Music by Norman Dello Joio†
Original lighting by Jean Rosenthal
Adapted by Beverly Emmons
Premiere: August 13, 1948, Palmer Auditorium, New London, CT
Martha Graham once described Diversion of Angels as three aspects of love: the couple in white represents mature love in perfect balance; red, erotic love; and yellow, adolescent love. The dance follows no story. Its action takes place in the imaginary garden love creates for itself. The ballet was originally called Wilderness Stair.
“It is the place of the Rock and the Ladder, the raven, the blessing, the tempter, the rose. It is the wish of the single-hearted, the undivided; play after the spirit’s labor; games, flights, fancies, configurations of the lover’s intention; the believed Possibility, at once strenuous and tender; humors of innocence, garlands, evangels, Joy on the Wilderness Stair, diversion of angels.” – Ben Belitt
The Couple in White Anne Souder, Jai Perez
The Couple in Red So Young An, Richard Villaverde
The Couple in Yellow Laurel Dalley Smith, Antonio Leone
Ane Arrieta Meagan King Devin Loh
Amanda Moreira Ethan Palma
†This new recording, engineered by Fred Vogler and conducted by Christopher Rountree, was commissioned by and recorded at The Soraya at CSUN and is used by arrangement with Carl Fischer, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.
Dance of Dedication
Choreography by Martha Graham reimagined by Janet Eilber
Costume by Martha Graham
Original Music by Henry Cowell
Music for reimagined Immediate Tragedy by Christopher Rountree†
Music performed by Richard Valitutto, piano
Lighting by Yi-Chung Chen
Danceturgy for reimagining by Neil Baldwin
Premiere: July 30, 1937, Bennington, VT
I was upright and determined to stay upright at all costs. – Martha Graham
Anne Souder
Significant commissioning support provided by The O'Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.
†Music produced and mixed by Lewis Pesacov
Choreography by Jamar Roberts
Music by Rhiannon Giddens
Arranged by Gabe Witcher
Costume Design by Karen Young
Lighting Design by Yi-Chung Chen
So Young An Ane Arrieta Zachary Jeppsen-Toy Laurel Dalley Smith
Meagan King Lloyd Knight Devin Loh Ethan Palma
Jai Perez Richard Villaverde Leslie Andrea Williams
We the People was made possible with a significant commissioning grant from The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation.
This production was also made possible by the 92nd Street Y, as part of 92NY’s 150th anniversary celebration, in honor and continued support of Martha Graham’s rich 92NY legacy.
Production support was provided by University of Michigan.
Intermission
Choreography by Hofesh Shechter
Creative Producer Daniil Simkin
Music by Âme† and Hofesh Shechter
Costumes by Caleb Krieg
Lighting by Yi-Chung Chen
Choreography Assistant Kim Kohlmann
World Premiere: April 6th, 2022, New York City Center
Ane Arrieta Laurel Dalley Smith Meagan King
Lloyd Knight Antonio Leone Devin Loh
Amanda Moreira Jai Perez Anne Souder
Richard Villaverde Leslie Andrea Williams
CAVE was made possible with a significant commissioning grant from The O’Donnell-Green
Music and Dance Foundation.
Major support for CAVE was provided by Sharon Patrick, the Clayton-Royer Family Fund, Monica
Voldstad and Jeff & Susan Campbell and Barbara Goldstein.
Production support was provided by Vassar College.
Co-Producing support provided by Studio Simkin and Sharing Spaces.
†Samples of „Fiori" by Âme; Sample of "The Witness" by Âme & Karyyn. Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer are members of the German collecting society GEMA and published by Innervisions GmbH.
Martha Graham has had a deep and lasting impact on American art and culture. She single-handedly defined contemporary dance as a uniquely American art form, which the nation has in turn shared with the world. Crossing artistic boundaries, she collaborated with and commissioned work from the leading visual artists, musicians, and designers of her day, including sculptor Isamu Noguchi and composers Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and Gian Carlo Menotti.
Graham’s groundbreaking style grew from her experimentation with the elemental movements of contraction and release. By focusing on the basic activities of the human form, she enlivened the body with raw, electric emotion. The sharp, angular, and direct movements of her technique were a dramatic departure from the predominant style of the time.
Graham influenced generations of choreographers that included Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, and Twyla Tharp, altering the scope of dance. Classical ballet dancers Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov sought her out to broaden their artistry. Artists of all genres were eager to study and work with Graham—she taught actors including Bette Davis, Kirk Douglas, Madonna, Liza Minnelli, Gregory Peck, Tony Randall, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, and Joanne Woodward to utilize their bodies as expressive instruments.
During her long and illustrious career, Graham created 181 dance compositions. During the Bicentennial she was granted the United States’ highest civilian honor, The Medal of Freedom. In 1998, TIME Magazine named her the “Dancer of the Century.” The first dancer to perform at the White House and to act as a cultural ambassador abroad, she captured the spirit of a nation. “No artist is ahead of his time,” she said. “He is his time. It is just that the others are behind the time.”
The Martha Graham Dance Company has been a leader in the evolving art form of modern dance since its founding in 1926. It is both the oldest dance company in the United States and the oldest integrated dance company.
Today, the Company is embracing a new programming vision that showcases masterpieces by Graham alongside newly commissioned works by contemporary artists. With programs that unite the work of choreographers across time within a rich historical and thematic narrative, the Company is actively working to create new platforms for contemporary dance and multiple points of access for audiences.
Since its inception, the Martha Graham Dance Company has received international acclaim from audiences in more than 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The Company has performed at the Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House, Covent Garden, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as at the base of the Great Pyramids in Egypt and in the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater on the Acropolis in Athens. In addition, the Company has also produced several award-winning films broadcast on PBS and around the world.
Though Martha Graham herself is the best-known alumna of her company, the Company has provided a training ground for some of modern dance’s most celebrated performers and choreographers. Former members of the Company include Merce Cunningham, Erick Hawkins, Paul Taylor, John Butler and Glen Tetley. Among celebrities who have joined the Company in performance are Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, Tiler Peck, Misty Copeland, Herman Cornejo and Aurelie Dupont.
In recent years, the Company has challenged expectations and experimented with a wide range of offerings beyond its mainstage performances. It has created a series of intimate in-studio events, forged unusual creative partnerships with the likes of SITI Company, Performa, the New Museum, Barney's, and Siracusa’s Greek Theater Festival (to name a few); created substantial digital offerings with Google Arts and Culture, YouTube, and Cennarium; and created a model for reaching new audiences through social media. The astonishing list of artists who have created works for the Graham dancers in the last decade reads like a catalog of must-see choreographers:
Kyle Abraham, Aszure Barton, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Lucinda Childs, Marie Chouinard, Michelle Dorrance, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Andonis Foniadakis, Liz Gerring, Larry Keigwin, Michael Kliën, Pontus Lidberg, Lil Buck, Lar Lubovitch, Josie Moseley, Richard Move, Bulareyaung Pagarlava, Annie-B Parson, Yvonne Rainer, Sonya Tayeh, Doug Varone, Luca Vegetti, Gwen Welliver and Robert Wilson.
The current company dancers hail from around the world and, while grounded in their Graham core training, can also slip into the style of contemporary choreographers like a second skin, bringing technical brilliance and artistic nuance to all they do -- from brand new works to Graham classics and those from early pioneers such as Isadora Duncan, Jane Dudley, Anna Sokolow, and Mary Wigman. “Some of the most skilled and powerful dancers you can ever hope to see,” according to the Washington Post last year. “One of the great companies of the world,” says The New York Times, while Los Angeles Times notes, “They seem able to do anything, and to make it look easy as well as poetic.”
JANET EILBER (Artistic Director) has been the Company’s artistic director since2005.Her direction has focused on creating new forms of audience access to Martha Graham’s masterworks. These initiatives include contextual programming, educational and community partnerships, use of new media, commissions from today’s top choreographers and creative events such as the Lamentation Variations. Earlier in her career, Ms. Eilber worked closely with Martha Graham. She danced many of Graham’s greatest roles, had roles created for her by Graham, and was directed by Graham in most of the major roles of the repertory. She soloed at the White House, was partnered by Rudolf Nureyev, starred in three segments of Dance in America, and has since taught, lectured, and directed Graham ballets internationally. Apart from her work with Graham, Ms. Eilber has performed in films, on television, and on Broadway directed by such greats as Agnes de Mille and Bob Fosse and has received four Lester Horton Awards for her reconstruction and performance of seminal American modern dance. She has served as Director of Arts Education for the Dana Foundation, guiding the Foundation’s support for Teaching Artist training and contributing regularly to its arts education publications. Ms. Eilber is a Trustee Emeritus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and was recently honored with a Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School. She is married to screenwriter/director John Warren, with whom she has two daughters, Madeline and Eva.
BEN SCHULTZ (Rehearsal Director) joined the Company in 2009 and serves as rehearsal director for the company. He’s danced lead roles including King Hades in Clytemnestra, Jason in Cave of the Heart, and Shaman in The Rite Of Spring. He premiered Martha Graham’s work in Russia performing Errand into the Maze with prima ballerina Diana Vishneva at the Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg. He’s also performed with Buglisi Dance Theater, Hannah Kahn Dance Company, and The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Currently he’s on staff at both The Martha Graham School and The Alvin Ailey School teaching the Martha Graham technique for pre professional students and divisions.
LLOYD KNIGHT joined the Company in 2005 and performs the major male roles of the Graham repertory including in Appalachian Spring, Embattled Garden, Night Journey and many others. Dance Magazine named him one of the “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2010 and one of the best performers of 2015. Mr. Knight has starred with ballet greats Wendy Whelan and Misty Copeland in signature Graham duets and has had roles created for him by such renowned artists as Nacho Duato and Pam Tanowitz. He is currently a principal guest artist for The Royal Ballet of Flanders directed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Born in England and raised in Miami, he trained at Miami Conservatory of Ballet and New World School of the Arts.
XIN YING joined the Company in 2011, Dance Magazine cover star. She performs The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Graham’s own roles including in Herodiade, Errand into the Maze, Chronicle and Cave of the Heart. She has been featured in works created for the Company by Pontus Lidberg, Annie-B Parson, Hofesh Shechter, Kyle Abraham, Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith. She is also a choreographer and currently getting her MFA at NYU Tisch.
LESLIE ANDREA WILLIAMS grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned her BFA from The Juilliard School and joined the company in 2015. Williams performs iconic Graham solos such as “Lamentation” and “Deep Song.” Her expansive repertoire of roles include Medea in “Cave of the Heart," and notably, as the lead in "Chronicle," which was highlighted in The New York Times' "Best Dance of 2019" list. Outside of Graham, Williams serves as a board member of the theater company Off-Brand Opera.
ANNE SOUDER joined the Company in 2015 and performs Martha Graham's own roles in Dark Meadow Suite, Chronicle, Deep Song, and Ekstasis. Roles have also been created for her by such luminaries as Marie Chouinard, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith. Ms. Souder began her training in Maryville, Tennessee and graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program with a double major in Dance and Theology while performing works by Alvin Ailey, Ron K. Brown, and more. She was also a member of Graham 2 and awarded a Dizzy Feet Foundation scholarship.
LAUREL DALLEY SMITH having joined the company in 2015, enjoys performing principal roles in Clytemnestra, Errand, Appalachian Spring and Chronicle amongst others. New creations by; Hofesh Shechter, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, Bobbie Jene Smith, Pontus Lidberg, Lar Lubovitch and Lucinda Childs. She had the privilege of revising Agnes De Mille’s title role of ‘The Cowgirl’ in Rodeo. Laurel guests internationally, working closely with Olivier award winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup, award winning Yorke Dance Project and had the privilege of dancing for the late Sir Robert Cohan.
SO YOUNG AN, a native of South Korea, joined the Company in 2016 and dances featured roles in Graham ballets as well as new works. Ms. An is the recipient of the International Arts Award and the Grand Prize at the Korea National Ballet Grand Prix. She has danced with Korean National Ballet Company, Seoul Performing Arts Company and Buglisi Dance Theatre. She has also performed works by Yuri Grigorovich, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Mats Ek, Patricia Ruanne and Samantha Dunster.
RICHARD VILLAVERDE a Miami native, is in his fourth season with the Martha Graham Dance Company. He trained at the New World School of the Arts and earned his BFA from the University of the Arts. Before joining the Company in 2021, Villaverde had an illustrious career with BalletX. His notable leading roles in the Graham company include dancing Lead in Maple Leaf Rag, “yellow couple” in Diversion of Angels, and the Husbandman in Appalachian Spring. The New York Times praised his portrayal of The Roper in Rodeo for his expressive movement and commanding stage presence. Villaverde has also been featured in Hofesh Shechter’s CAVE and participated in Twyla Tharp’s celebrated revivals at New York City Center in 2022.
DEVIN LOH from Fanwood, NJ, holds a BFA from Purchase College, and is a Bert Terborgh Dance Award recipient. Ms. Loh joined Graham 2 in 2019, and the company in 2021. She has performed Graham classics and works by Jamar Roberts, Hofesh Shechter, and Sonya Tayeh with the company. Ms. Loh is a certified Graham Technique teacher, and is the 2025 Distinguished Graduate of UCAPA High School for passing Martha’s legacy to the next generation.
ANTONIO LEONE a native of Italy, graduated from the Rudra Bejart School in Switzerland. In 2021 he joined Graham 2 and the main company in 2022. He performs featured roles in Errand into the Maze, Diversion of Angels and Appalachian Spring by Martha Graham, as well as roles in commissioned works by Agnes DeMille, Sonya Tayeh, Hofesh Shechter, Jamar Roberts, Baye and Asa and Yin Yue. He is the first male dancer with CR Dance and a Pearl Lang Award recipient for Excellence in Performance.
MEAGAN KING of Brooklyn, NY, is an Ailey/Fordham BFA and LaGuardia High School alumna. Ms. King formerly danced with Ailey II and received features in Vogue Magazine, Dance Spirit, The TODAY Show, PIX11, NY12, and Good Day Sacramento. She is a Princess Grace Award nominee and named BLOCH Young Artist. She has performed at Holland Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, and choreographed for Women/Create! This is her second season with the company.
ANE ARRIETA from Rhode Island, is a dual citizen of Spain and the U.S. She earned a BFA from the Hartt School, receiving the Outstanding Senior Award. She’s danced with Newport Contemporary Ballet, Graham 2 and Buglisi Dance Theater. At Graham she’s worked with Jamar Roberts and Baye and Asa and has performed soloist roles in Graham masterpieces Cave of the Heart and Appalachian Spring.
ZACHARY JEPPSEN-TOY (New Dancer) raised in Southern Wisconsin, is an alumnus of The Juilliard School where he received his BFA in Dance. He has had the pleasure of performing pieces by Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Donald McKayle, Paul Taylor, Ohad Naharin, and many other choreographers. Before Juilliard, Zachary attended The Chicago Academy for the Arts where he studied under Randy Duncan and Patrick Simoniello. This is his second season with the company.
AMANDA MOREIRA (New Dancer), originally from Roxbury, NJ, graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. She has assisted dance conventions with Deviate Dance and has apprenticed with Parsons Dance. She has performed works choreographed by Pascal Rioult, Twyla Tharp, Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, May O’Donnell, and Jennifer Archibald among others. After graduating she joined Graham 2. This is her second season with the company.
JAI PEREZ (New Dancer), is from Harlem, NY. He started his dance journey at the National Dance Institute, where he cultivated a love for movement. He continued his training at the Ailey School, then at SUNY Purchase, where he received a BFA in dance. He has performed works by Hofesh Schechter, Jamar Roberts, and Ronald K. Brown. Jai has performed with Buglisi Dance Theater and A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham. This is Jai’s second season with the company.
ETHAN PALMA (New Dancer) is originally from Appleton, Wisconsin. Ethan received a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. At Marymount, Ethan has performed in works of many choreographers including Martha Graham, Jenn Freeman, Chanel Dasilva, Pedro Ruiz. Ethan danced in the 2024 MET Opera’s Ainadamar and is currently in his first season with the Martha Graham Dance Company.
LaRue Allen, Executive Director
Janet Eilber, Artistic Director
Ben Schultz, Rehearsal Director
Blakeley White-McGuire, Rehearsal Director
Simona Ferrara, General Manager
Lauren Mosier, Company Manager
A. Apostol, Director of Development Operations
Christina Convertito, Patron Services Coordinator
Susan Lamb, Finance & Administrative Assistant
Melissa Sherwood, Director of Marketing
Joyce Herring, Director of Martha Graham Resources
Chloe Morrell, Production Supervisor
Yi-Chung Chen, Resident Lighting Designer
Becky Nussbaum, Associate Lighting Supervisor
Gabrielle Corrigan, Wardrobe Supervisor
Karen Young, Costume Consultant
Ashley Brown, Director of School
Tami Alesson, Dean of Students and Government Affairs
Virginie Mécène, Program Director/Director of Graham 2
Lone Larsen, Program Director
Amélie Bénard, Teens@Graham Program Director
Camille Nemoz, Administrative Assistant
Ana Sanchez, School Assistant
Janet Stapleton, Press Agent
Miki Orihara
Virginie Mecene
Peggy Lyman
Peter Sparling
Blakeley White-McGuire
Elizabeth Auclair
Lone Larsen
Tadej Brdnik
Masha Maddux
Maxine Sherman
Martin Lofnes
Anne Souder
PeiJu Chien Pott
Amelie Bernard
Javier Morgado, Chair
Lorraine Oler, Immediate Past Chair
Barbara Cohen, Vice Chair
Judith G. Schlosser, Chair Emeritus
LaRue Allen, Executive Director
Janet Eilber, Artistic Director
Amy Blumenthal
Geoffrey D. Fallon
Christine Jowers
Nichole Perkins
Dr. M. Felicity Rogers-Chapman
Stephen M. Rooks
Lori Sackler
Lawrence Stein
Ellen Stiene
Ellis Wood
Rena Shagan Associates, Inc.
(www.shaganarts.com)
LaRue Allen
Executive Director
(lallen@marthagraham.org)
If you or someone you know has ever performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company or attended classes at the Martha Graham School, please send us names, addresses, telephone numbers and approximate dates of membership. We will add you to our alumni mailing list and keep you apprised of alumni events and benefits. Call +1.212.229.9200 or e-mail info@marthagraham.org.
The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance is a not-for-profit corporation, supported by contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Contributions in support of the Martha Graham Center will be gratefully received at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, Inc., 55 Bethune Street New York, NY 10014, or visit www.marthagraham.org/contribute.
For more information, visit www.marthagraham.org
