Original investigations
A study on relationships between floor techniques of Graham Martha as a dancer and a choreograpner and India Yoga
2000 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 37-53
Details
2000 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages 37-53
The purpose of this study was done to clarify relationships between floor techniques of Graham Martha as a dancer and a choreographer, and Yoga growing in India as oriental physical discipline. In order to solve the problems, methods analyzing materials such as literatures and VTR about dance were used.
As a result the following conclusion was provided.
It is said that dance works created by Graham feel like oriental. As one of the reasons, it is thought that many kinds of floor techniques using in her dance works let you image it so. It was in programs at "Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts" in California that Graham encountered India Yoga. By comparison between characteristics of floor techniques in dance created by Graham and India Yoga in 6 viewpoints, it was found that there are similarities between those of floor techniques and those of Yoga in "principle of contraction and release", "expressions by movement using spine", "floor as movement space", "respect to breathing", and "fundamental posture" except "notion of time". Therefore, it is said to become clear that Graham adopted elements of Yoga as oriental body culture in floor technique used in dance works created by her.
However, it is pointed out about the next mark. Each pose in Yoga is divided into one by one and it is only exercise or discipline, but not dance. In other words, fundamental elements of dance such as time, space, flowing of movements, expression, and aesthetics are not purposes of Yoga. Though Graham was incited by Yoga and accepted the principle of movements and ideas in Yoga, she created her own dance language strictly and dance works left in the history. This is not simply rediscovery. While she was receiving influence of Yoga, it is clearly that Graham developed techniques to become foundations of modern dance, created her original dance works, and built a new dance form which is different from that of classical ballet.
We hope that this paper will contribute to built new theories on interaction between western culture and eastern culture in dance.
