About the School
The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance caters to a wide range of students, from professional dancers to those seeking their first dance experience. We’re the longest continuously operating school of dance in the United States and the only one primarily focused on the Martha Graham Technique and Repertory. Our classes are taught by faculty who have worked with Martha Graham and who are current or former members of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Students who have studied at the Martha Graham School have moved on to professional dance companies such as the Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Jose Limon Dance Company, the Buglisi Dance Theater, Rioult, and The Battery Dance Company as well as other companies throughout the world and on Broadway.
Martha Graham students and dancers represent a broad range of cultures and backgrounds, and they take this unique American art form around the world to teach and perform.
The Martha Graham School is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.
Our Mission
The Martha Graham School serves the art of dance, and in so doing serves its students, who range from those with career goals to those seeking only the joy of dancing. Today, the Martha Graham School focuses on sustaining the integrity of the unique art form developed by Martha Graham as well as adapting it to the demands of the present times and nurturing the process that continues its development. The School is devoted to training dancers and dance teachers to the highest standards and to provide dance to the community through Arts-in-Education and outreach programs. It remains a point of pride in the school whose alumni include great dancers and choreographers that someone with no dance experience can walk in, register, and begin to dance.
Courses of Study
We offer a broad selection of classes and programs in the Graham technique and repertory and provide opportunities to use Graham classics as a springboard for exploration and contemporary artistic expression. In addition to Graham-focused courses, we offer classes such as Pilates and classical ballet. More
Graham in the Schools
From long-term residencies to individual workshops and performances by Graham II, we offer numerous programs for schools that are customized to meet the needs of different ages, schools, and classrooms. More
Graham II
Graham II, the Martha Graham School’s dance troupe, performs the Graham classic repertory, as well as other seminal classics and new works. Graham II is composed of as many as 12 advanced student dancers, who are selected by audition and supported by generous scholarships. More
Faculty & Staff
Director of School: Virginie Mécène
Director of Education: Tami Alesson
International Student Advisor: Angela Wiele
School Administrator: Olga Alagiozidou
Full-Time Faculty Martha Graham Technique and Repertory: Janet Eilber, Jennifer Conley, Penny Frank, Yuko Giannakis, Ellen Graff, Linda Hodes, Lone Larsen, Peggy Lyman Hayes, Virginie Mecene, Kevin Predmore, Marnie Thomas, Denise Vale
Guest Faculty Martha Graham Technique and Repertory: Elizabeth Auclair, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Tadej Brdnik, Erika Dankmayer, Christopher Dolder, Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch, Donlin Foreman, Phylis Gutelius, Joyce Herring, Mary Hinkson, David Hochoy, Stuart Hodes, Martin Lofsnes, Peter London, Maurizio Nardi, Miki Orihara, Steve Rooks, Maxine Sherman, Kenneth Topping, Yung Yung Tsuai, Anne Westwick, Blakeley White-McGuire, Dudley Williams, Myra Woodruf, Yuriko
Anatomy: Kriota Willberg
Acting: Eli Danker and Clifford David
Dance History: Dr. Ellen Graff
Music: Pat Daugherty
Composition: Kevin Predmore
Ballet: Tami Alesson
Pilates: Virginie Mécène
Musicians: Robert Boston, Andreas Brade, Eli Danker, Patrick Daugherty, William Cantazano, Cara Gardella, Reed Hansen, Rob Heath, Michael Kosch, Joseph Liefitz, Scott Morehouse, Jonathan Rich, David Sanella, Kevin Sport, William Tatge
Teens@Graham:
Teaching Artists: Oliver Tobin, Cynthia Stanley, Jessica Delia, Rachael Kosch
Young Artists Program: Amelie Benard, Jesse Factor, Pauline Legras, Lindsay Poulis, Raphael Kessedjian, Jean-Rene Homehr, Oliver Tobin, Stephanie von Dooren
Studio Rental
The state-of-the-art dance studios at the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance are available for rental. More
