words edel cassidy photos ken browar, deborah ory
Dance has a special way of capturing a moment – a leap, a pause, a movement filled with emotion. Martha Graham, the ground-breaking American dancer and choreographer who revolutionised modern dance in the 20th century with her innovative techniques and dramatic, emotional performances, also believed in the power of stillness.
‘It may surprise people to know that Martha Graham was a great believer in stillness. Though she was recognised as the genius inventor of an entirely new way of moving, Graham was a devotee of stopping time,’ writes Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company, in her introduction to Martha Graham Dance Company 100 Years. Now, photographers Ken Browar and Deborah Ory (NYC Dance Project) embody that very ideal in this new tome. Through striking still images of Graham’s work, they capture and preserve fleeting moments.
Arriving just in time for the company’s centennial, this lavish volume is more than a tribute; it’s an invitation to linger inside Graham’s world. Through the lenses of the photographers, Graham’s iconic works come alive in vivid detail, frozen in exquisite moments. Spanning 200+ images, the book pairs contemporary recreations of the beauty and the precision of dancers who carry the mantle of Graham’s legacy today with archival glimpses of the legend herself.
The selections span Graham’s most celebrated works: Lamentation (1930), Graham’s most iconic solo, is a meditation on grief in motion; Primitive Mysteries (1931) gives life to the desire for transformative ritual; and Imperial Gesture (1935) offers a portrait of demagoguery, created as fascism rose in Europe. Chronicle (1936) stands as a powerful indictment of the horrors of war, while Appalachian Spring (1944) became an ode to the American spirit and a cultural export. Later works include Night Journey (1947), a reimagining of the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex; Embattled Garden (1958), drawing on the Biblical story of Adam and Eve; and Maple Leaf Rag (1990), Graham’s last complete work, a playful send-up of the beleaguered artist that revealed her ability to laugh at herself.
Each featured dance is introduced with notes on its inspiration and the collaborations that shaped it – costume design, set design and accompanying music. There is also an in-depth feature on Isamu Noguchi’s legendary set designs. But the heart of this project lies in the photographs – a monumental tribute to Graham’s profound creative legacy and a gift to lovers of dance and art, now and for generations to come.
These images remind us that dance can live in a suspended moment – when motion becomes memory and a single frame holds the weight of an entire story.
Behind the vision
The striking photography of NYC Dance Project springs from the unique partnership of Ken Browar and Deborah Ory. Browar, a celebrated fashion and editorial photographer, discovered his love for dance when he photographed the Paris Opera Ballet dancers. Ory, a former dancer, turned to photography during an injury.
Janet Eilber has served as Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company since 2005. Earlier, she worked directly with the legendary choreographer, dancing many of her most iconic works.
Completing this creative team is Peter Sparling – Graham dancer, José Limón collaborator, and University of Michigan dance professor whose career has blossomed into poetry and painting.
Together, this visionary team merges artistry, experience and passion to create a book that keeps the spirit of Martha Graham alive.
Excerpted from Martha Graham Dance Company 100 Years (Black Dog & Leventhal). Copyright © 2025. Photographs by Ken Browar and Deborah Ory.
- ‘A Century in Motion: A visual tribute to Martha Graham’s legacy’ is published in Anthology Volume 24. Read more features from this volume or buy it now.
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