Clarke, Martha

Clarke, Martha

▪ American choreographer
born June 3, 1944, Baltimore, Md., U.S.

      American choreographer and dancer whose emotionally evocative work draws extensively on theatrical elements.

      Clarke studied at the exclusive Perry-Mansfield School of Theater and Dance in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She attended summer sessions at the Connecticut College School of Dance, where she worked with José Límon (Limón, José) and Alvin Ailey (Ailey, Alvin, Jr.). At the Juilliard School in New York City she studied the Martha Graham (Graham, Martha) technique and then joined the modern dance company of Anna Sokolow, under whose direction Clarke tapped what she later described as an emotional expressionism evident in all her subsequent work.

      Clarke joined the Pilobolus Dance Theatre, a previously all-male acrobatic troupe, in 1973; intense competition and discord between members caused her to leave the group in 1979. With Robert Barnett and Félix Blaska, Clarke then formed Crowsnest, a chamber group. Her dramatic and imaginative solos—such as Fallen Angel, in which, clad in an evening gown and bird mask, she danced to a Gregorian chant—were highly praised. She worked with actress Linda Hunt on performance art pieces, including A Metamorphosis in Miniature (1982), a musical adaptation of Franz Kafka (Kafka, Franz)'s Metamorphosis. In 1984 Clarke created a phantasmagoric series of sketches called The Garden of Earthly Delights, based on the work of the 15th-century surrealist painter Hieronymus Bosch (Bosch, Hiëronymus). Her other works include Vienna: Lusthaus, which evokes the decadence of fin de siècle Europe; The Hunger Artist, about the life of Kafka; and Miracolo d'amore, an exploration of erotic love.

      Clarke was the subject of Martha Clarke, Light and Dark: A Dancer's Journey, a 1981 Public Broadcasting Service documentary. She also was the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Martha Clarke — (born June 3, 1944) is an American director and choreographer noted for her multidisciplinary approach to theatre, dance, and opera productions. She is the creator of plotless, dreamlike works that are perhaps described by the term moving… …   Wikipedia

  • Martha Fineman — Martha Albertson Fineman Full name Martha Albertson Fineman Born 1943 (age 67–68) Era 20th century philosophy Region Western Philosophy School Critical legal theory, feminist legal theory …   Wikipedia

  • Martha Jones — Personnage de fiction apparaissant dans Doctor Who, Torchwood …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Martha Hill — (December 1, 1900 – November 19, 1995) was one of the most influential American dance instructors in history. She was the first Director of Dance at the Juilliard School, and held that position for almost 35 years. Biography Hill was born in East …   Wikipedia

  • Martha Keys — Martha Elizabeth Keys (* 10. August 1930 in Hutchinson, Kansas) ist eine US amerikanische Politikerin. Zwischen 1975 und 1979 vertrat sie den zweiten Wahlbezirk des Bundesstaates Kansas im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Martha Keys wurde am 10 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Martha Fineman — Martha Albertson Fineman (* 1943) ist eine US amerikanische Rechtsgelehrte und Philosophin. Seit 2004 ist sie Robert W. Woodruff Professorin für Rechtswissenschaften an der Emory University School of Law in Atlanta. Von 1999 bis 2004 war sie… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Martha Griffiths — Martha W. Griffiths (1970) Martha Wright Griffiths (* 29. Januar 1912 als Martha Edna Wright in Pierce City, Lawrence County, Missouri; † 22. April 2003 in Amarda, Michigan) war eine US amerikanische Politikerin und von 1983 bis 1991 Viz …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Martha Jones — Doctor Who character Martha Jones Affiliated Tenth Doctor UNIT Torchwood Spe …   Wikipedia

  • Martha's Vineyard — For other uses, see Martha s Vineyard (disambiguation). Martha s Vineyard Native name: Noepe Nickname: The Vineyard Map of Martha s Vineyard …   Wikipedia

  • Martha MacKenzie — Jodi Gordon as Martha MacKenzie …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”