The Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldes modern dance troupe in the United States. In face, Martha Graham herself spoke against the regime in Germany in 1936.
Graham founded the Dance Company in 1926.
Graham was a staunch believer “that art should never compromise with oppressive or controversial ideologies.”
With that premise in mind, the Martha Graham Dance Company has decided to withdraw from the Kennedy Center Honors program; adding their name to a growing list of artists and organizations who are refusing to have any affiliation with iconic Performing Arts Center.
In response to Philip Glass’ withdrawal of his new symphony from a June performance, the Kennedy Center said that politics has no place in art. But the two have been intrinsically entwined throughout history.
The withdrawal by the Martha Graham Dance Company has sparked a new debate over arts, culture, and politics.
The dancers and management made the decision to break ties with the Kennedy Center as an expression of “respect for the ideals of their founder.”
“This withdrawal from the Kennedy Center is being considered a form of cultural protest (Exodus), in which many other prominent figures also participated. This event demonstrates that dance is not just a means of entertainment, but also a powerful medium of expression and resistance, which, from time to time, attempts to guide society on the right path.”
While the Dance Company are not members of the Kennedy Center Honors, Graham herself was inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors.