The body says what words cannot.
Martha GrahamRead
You can be Eastern or Burmese or what have you, but the function of the body and the awareness of the body results in dance and you become a dancer, not just a human being.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Dance transcends cultural identity, allowing individuals to connect uniquely with their bodies and express themselves.
In this quote, Martha Graham emphasizes that regardless of cultural background, the essence of being human is elevated through the physical and conscious experience of dance. It highlights that through dance, individuals not only embrace their cultural identities but also transform into artists, embodying a deeper connection with their bodies and emotions.
Themes
DanceExpressionIdentityHuman ExperienceArtistry
In practice
Example use cases
During a dance performance, one could mention this quote to highlight the universality of human expression through movement.
More from Martha Graham
All quotes →Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Martha GrahamRead
Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.
Martha GrahamRead
What people in the world think of you is really none of your business.
Martha GrahamRead
No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a strange, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.
Martha GrahamRead
The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body.
Martha GrahamRead
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