Martha Graham was a 20th-century American choreographer, whose lifelong quest to express herself openly and honestly through movement led to many of the innovations we find today today in modern dance. His impact on the world of dance is so monumental that it has been compared to Picasso's impact on painting. Indeed, Graham's endless search for new forms of expression and honesty through movement has led many to call her the most important dancer of the 20th century. Although Martha Graham was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1894, she spent most of her childhood and adolescence on the West Coast, raised by her father, a physician who specialized in nervous disorders. His father's work was essential to Graham's inspiration, as he was primarily interested in using movement to remedy nervous disorders. However, it wasn't until his late teens that Graham found his calling. In 1911, Graham attended a performance by ballet dancer Ruth St. Denis at the Mason Opera House in Los Angeles. Provoked by St. Denis's performance, Graham enrolled in an arts-oriented college. Eventually, she would transfer to the Denishawn School, founded by St. Denis. Graham eventually became an instructor at Denishawn and lived there for eight years. At Denishawn, Graham worked primarily with choreographer Ted Shawn. Shawn was so impressed by Graham's talent that he created an entire show, "Xochital," around her. In this production, Graham danced the role of a young Aztec girl who is attacked. Graham's performance of the character was so beautifully moving that it received critical acclaim. After spending eight years at Denishawn, Graham left the institution in search of more experiences...... middle of paper ......this would be one of many creating a theme for Graham's work, the successes and failures of greats and ordinary women. Although age began to become a factor for Graham, she continued to dance until 1969. Yet Graham never truly left the world of dance, continuing to teach and choreograph until her death in 1991. Its influence extends all over the world. artistic community, from Woody Allen to Betty Davis, citing her as a major influence in their work. Martha Graham, the mother of modern dance, is perhaps the most important dancer of the 20th century, thanks to her opposition to the traditions of the world of entertainment and life. She was the first choreographer to systematically employ African-American and Asian-American dancers. Through her efforts to be more open, she completely changed the landscape for a new era of dancers..