Martha Graham

American dancer and choreographer (1894–1991)
Person human Q487604
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Martha Graham was born on May 11, 1894 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12], in Allegheny. She had a sibling, Georgia Graham [13]. Graham's education took place at the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts and Santa Barbara High School . As a United States citizen , she went on to work in various roles including ballet dancer, choreographer, music educator, ballet master, costume designer, and dancer [12].

Graham's field of expertise was dance . She was employed by New York University . Throughout her career, Graham received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame [14][15][16][17]. She also received the Capezio Dance Award and Kennedy Center Honors [14][15][16][17].

Martha Graham died on April 1, 1991 [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12], in New York. Her contributions to dance have been recognized through her various awards and honors. Graham's work in multiple roles has left a lasting impact on her field.

Martha Graham

Summary

Martha Graham is a human[1]. She was born in Allegheny[2]. She was born on May 11, 1894[3]. She died in New York[4]. She died on April 1, 1991[5]. She worked as a ballet dancer[6], choreographer[7], music educator[8], ballet master[9], and costume designer[10]. She ranks in the top 0.66% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (2,482 views/month, #6,589 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Born in Allegheny[2], Martha Graham…
  • Martha Graham died in New York[4].
  • Martha Graham was born on May 11, 1894[3].
  • Martha Graham died on April 1, 1991[5].
  • Among Martha Graham's spouses was Erick Hawkins[12].
  • Martha Graham held citizenship in United States[13].
  • Martha Graham's professions included ballet dancer[6].
  • Martha Graham's professions included choreographer[7].
  • Martha Graham's professions included music educator[8].
  • Martha Graham's professions included ballet master[9].
  • Martha Graham's professions included costume designer[10].
  • Martha Graham's professions included dancer[14].
  • Martha Graham's field of work was dance[15].
  • Martha Graham was employed by New York University[16].
  • Martha Graham's education included a stint at Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts[17].
  • Martha Graham's education included a stint at Santa Barbara High School[18].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Yvonne Rainer[19].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Anne-Marie Reynaud[20].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Bessie Schonberg[21].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Bill Smith[22].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Anna Sokolow[23].
  • A notable student of Martha Graham was Patricia Brooks[24].
  • Martha Graham received the Guggenheim Fellowship[25].
  • Martha Graham received the National Medal of Arts[26].
  • Martha Graham received the Presidential Medal of Freedom[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Martha Graham was born in Allegheny[2]. She was born on May 11, 1894[3].

Education

Educated at Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts[17], a dance studio[28], in United States[29] and Santa Barbara High School[18], a high school[30], in United States[31], founded in 1875[32]. Studied under Ruth St. Denis[33] and Ted Shawn[34].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include ballet dancer[6], choreographer[7], music educator[8], ballet master[9], costume designer[10], and dancer[14]. Martha Graham's field of work was dance[15]. Among her employers was New York University[16]. Notable students include Yvonne Rainer[19], a film director[35], b. 1934[36], of United States[37], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[38], specialised in dance[39]; Anne-Marie Reynaud[20], a choreographer[40], 1945–2009[41], of France[42]; Bessie Schonberg[21]; Bill Smith[22]; Anna Sokolow[23]; and Patricia Brooks[24].

Recognition

Awards received include Guggenheim Fellowship[25], a fellowship grant[43], in United States[44], founded in 1925[45]; National Medal of Arts[26], a medallion[46], in United States[47], founded in 1984[48]; Presidential Medal of Freedom[27], an award[49], in United States[50], founded in 1963[51]; National Women's Hall of Fame[52], a 501(c)(3) organization[53], in United States[54], founded in 1969[55]; Capezio Dance Award[56], an award[57], founded in 1952[58]; and Kennedy Center Honors[59], an award[60], in United States[61], founded in 1978[62].

Personal Life

Martha Graham was married to Erick Hawkins[12].

Death and Burial

Martha Graham died on April 1, 1991[5]. She passed away in New York[4].

Why It Matters

Martha Graham ranks in the top 0.66% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (2,482 views/month, #6,589 of 1,000,298).[11] She has Wikipedia articles in 25 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[63] She is known by 17 alternative names across languages and contexts.[64]

She has been cited as an influence by Madonna[65], a singer[66], b. 1958[67], of United States[68], awarded the Grammy Award for Best Music Film[69], specialised in music industry[70] and Noemí Lapzeson[71], a ballet dancer[72], 1940–2018[73], of Argentina[74], awarded the Schweizer Tanz- und Choreografiepreis[75], specialised in dance[76].

FAQs

Where was Martha Graham born?

Born in Allegheny[2], Martha Graham…

Where did Martha Graham die?

Martha Graham passed away in New York[4].

Who was Martha Graham married to?

Martha Graham's spouses include Erick Hawkins[12].

What did Martha Graham do for work?

Martha Graham worked as ballet dancer[6], choreographer[7], music educator[8], ballet master[9], and costume designer[10].

Where did Martha Graham go to school?

Martha Graham was educated at Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts[17] and Santa Barbara High School[18].

What awards did Martha Graham receive?

Honors received include Guggenheim Fellowship[25], National Medal of Arts[26], Presidential Medal of Freedom[27], and National Women's Hall of Fame[52].

Who did Martha Graham influence?

Martha Graham has been cited as an influence by Madonna[65] and Noemí Lapzeson[71].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [12] . wikidata.org.
  4. [13] . wikidata.org.
  5. [17] . wikidata.org.
  6. [18] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [15] . wikidata.org.
  8. [6] . wikidata.org.
  9. [7] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [8] . wikidata.org.
  11. [9] . wikidata.org.
  12. [10] . wikidata.org.
  13. [14] . The Fine Art Archive. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [16] . wikidata.org.
  15. [25] . Guggenheim Fellows database. wikidata.org.
  16. [26] . wikidata.org.
  17. [27] . presidency.ucsb.edu. presidency.ucsb.edu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  18. [52] . womenofthehall.org. womenofthehall.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  19. [56] . wikidata.org.
  20. [59] . kennedy-center.org. kennedy-center.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  21. [3] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  22. [5] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [19] . wikidata.org.
  24. [20] . wikidata.org.
  25. [21] . wikidata.org.
  26. [22] . hedendaagsesieraden.nl. hedendaagsesieraden.nl. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  27. [23] . wikidata.org.
  28. [24] . wikidata.org.
  29. [33] . wikidata.org.
  30. [34] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [65] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [71] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [74] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [75] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [76] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [63] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [64] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Martha Graham. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/martha-graham
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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_martha-graham_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Martha Graham}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/martha-graham}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 13d ago · Pescan · 2026-05-13 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Sex or gender female
    Field of work
    Archives at Library of Congress Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
    Image purged license
    + 39 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P8669]]: grahamova-martha"
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