Celebrating International Women’s Day
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’ and what better way to celebrate than to highlight some of the incredible women our students study across their Classical and Contemporary Context modules? Many of these women accelerated action via their radical contributions to dance and choreography and strong viewpoints.
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, but also a choreographer, author, and educator, to name a few of her other talents. She has been called the ‘matriarch and queen mother of black dance’ due to having one of the most successful dance careers in African American and European theatre of the 20th century.
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, the founder of The Royal Ballet School, is also labelled the ‘Godmother’ of English ballet by many. She rightly earned this title through her establishment of the School and her own company, the Vic-Wells Ballet, which later evolved into the Sadler’s Wells Ballet and eventually, in 1956, became The Royal Ballet. She also established the touring company, which later became Birmingham Royal Ballet. Her contribution to the art form is why all three institutions continue to exist today.
Bronislava Nijinska
A true trailblazer, Bronislava Nijinska was one of the most significant female choreographers of the 20th century. Although her technical foundation was rooted in classical ballet, her creative approach was daringly original. She had a profound influence on Dame Ninette de Valois and Sir Frederick Ashton, shaping the future of British ballet. Nijinska developed unique training methods to prepare dancers for her distinctive choreographic style, which was radical at the time. A leading voice of the Diaghilev era, her modernist masterpieces continue to captivate audiences today. One of our previous Ballet Teachers, Nicola Tranah, said of Nijinska:
Nijinska was one of the strongest voices of the Diaghilev era and her works are modernist masterpieces. They spoke to the time in which she lived, portraying real stories covering a wide spectrum of subjects and styles which hadn’t been done in that way before. To lose these incredible works of art from such a rich era of music, design and dance would be a devastating loss. Even today it has stood the test of time and is as wonderful now as it was when first performed. – Nicola Tranah
Martha Graham
Recognised as one of the most influential artistic forces of the 20th century, Martha Graham revolutionised dance with her pioneering technique. During her 70-year career, she choreographed 181 ballets and developed a movement vocabulary that would transform modern dance. Named ‘Dancer of the Century’ by Time, Graham collaborated with renowned artists such as Isamu Noguchi, creating more than 20 groundbreaking works together.
Isadora Duncan
Often called the ‘mother of modern dance,’ Isadora Duncan broke free from the constraints of traditional ballet, replacing rigid technique with expressive, natural movement. She was the first to choreograph dances to music not originally composed for ballet, including works by Beethoven and Chopin. While her bold approach initially sparked controversy, she ultimately inspired generations of artists across Europe and Russia, leaving an indelible mark on dance history.
Anna Pavlova
With her poetic and expressive style, Anna Pavlova captivated audiences worldwide and played a key role in popularising classical ballet beyond Russia. Born into poverty in St Petersburg, she trained at the Imperial Ballet School and rose to the rank of prima ballerina in 1906. After brief stints with Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, she formed her own touring company, bringing ballet to new audiences across the globe. Her legacy endures as one of the most beloved ballerinas in history.
Agnes De Mille
Agnes de Mille was a pioneering American choreographer who carved out a space for women in a field dominated by men. She developed a distinct American style of dance and choreographed some of the most iconic ballets of the 20th century. De Mille’s Black Ritual (1940) was the first ballet to feature African American dancers at the American Ballet Theatre, marking a historic moment in dance history.
Trisha Brown
Trisha Brown was a visionary postmodern choreographer who redefined contemporary dance through her exploration of movement and improvisation. A founding member of the Judson Dance Theater, she developed a unique choreographic language that merged fluidity with structured improvisation. Her works, such as Set and Reset, challenged traditional notions of performance and continue to influence contemporary dance today.
Judith Jamison
A celebrated dancer, choreographer, and artistic director, Judith Jamison became a powerful force in the world of modern dance. Best known for her work with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she rose to fame performing Ailey’s iconic solo Cry, a deeply moving tribute to Black womanhood. As the company’s artistic director for over two decades, Jamison played a pivotal role in expanding Ailey’s legacy and inspiring new generations of dancers.
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp is an award-winning American choreographer known for blending classical ballet with jazz, modern dance, and pop culture influences. Her innovative works, including Push Comes to Shove and In the Upper Room, showcase her dynamic style and theatrical flair. Throughout her career, Tharp has collaborated with major ballet companies, Broadway productions, and Hollywood films, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the dance world.
Cathy Marston
A graduate of The Royal Ballet School, Cathy Marston has built an illustrious career as an award-winning choreographer. Known for her rich storytelling and fresh perspectives on classic narratives, she has created works for leading ballet companies, including The Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. Marston’s critically acclaimed productions, such as Jane Eyre and Of Mice and Men, showcase her unique ability to merge literature and dance. Recently, she was appointed Director of Ballett Zürich, continuing to shape the future of dance.
Crystal Pite
Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite has been described by The New York Times as ‘one of the most talented and intriguing choreographers working today.’ In 2017, she created the Olivier Award–winning contemporary ballet Flight Pattern, a poignant exploration of the refugee crisis. Pite’s emotionally charged and visually stunning work continues to push the boundaries of contemporary dance. Could mention that her work Lite of Passage is currently showing at the Royal Opera House and features some of our Junior Associate students.
These extraordinary women have each accelerated action in the world of dance, breaking barriers and inspiring generations of dancers and choreographers. Their legacies continue to shape the art form, ensuring that ballet and contemporary dance remain vibrant, relevant, and transformative.
