Cave of the Heart/Medea solo

Martha Graham Dance Company's Principal Dancer Miki Orihara preparing for the role of Medea (Cave of the Heart) for our upcoming Spring 2008 performances in Virginia

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Martha
• Graham
• Dance
• Company
• Miki
• Orihara
• Cave
• of
• the
• Heart
• principal
• dancer
• medea

[scrubs18]

whos this dancing?

[tadejny]

Miki Orihara - Principal Dancer

[kp2149]

I have studied modern (only in college) for around 2 years now. I wish I had an 1/8 of the technique, form, beauty, grace, etc. that she exudes in this dance. Please post more! This is wonderful inspiration for students.

[tadejny]

spread the word,... and yes there is more to come....

[turnongenius]

i know nothing about dance but this is just divine

[faeryface16]

the way she moves is so poetic. she's fascinating to watch. i love her turns at 2:55-3:00.

[mskelseypeters]

this is AWEsome

[2dark2bDzired]

Medeaaaaaaaaaa, yesss! you brazen, wild woman you!

augh, so visceral and gorgeous! 

[broadwaybaby33]

Miki was one of my teachers at the intensive last summer, and she was absolutely wonderful. Such an amazing person, artist, and dancer. Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for posting!

[andrewdancing]

@thientoan89 Martha Graham said that Cave of the Heart is about "the never ending curse of jealousy." The scene in this video is actually a very heavy, ugly scene. It depicts Medea in the throws of jealousy, so angry about the betrayal of a lover that she eviscerates herself (cuts herself open), pulls out her entrails (her "guts"), and eats them. I'm not kidding. That string that this dancer is dancing with, represents her intestines. Sorry. This dance is not for the squeamish.

[thientoan89]

so, I don't really get what this dance is about. Can someone please explain? I am a bit frustrated with all these "top" dance companies coming up with dances that I have NO IDEA what it is about. I mean isn't the point of dance is to convey a message or feeling or something.....I find myself simply confused about seeing these dances....

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE dance and I think it is a great art form.

[nothersheep]

Maybe think 'Cubist' in contrast to ballet or Isadora Duncan's work. It really shattered the world of concert dance in its day. It was really the first technique of modern dance too, the real break from classical or re-envisioned folk dances. This performance reminds me why it was such a vital thing.

[penhsin]

beauty

[huggable102]

Martha Graham was a genius I wish I could choreograph modern dance like she did.

[islavista1000]

I love this dancer's performance. All of the very stern and muscular Martha-isms are there, but it's not textbook Martha. This seems more delicate and somehow more feminine. Very fluid, some exciting speedy twirling -- wonderful to watch and I thought a mature and unselfconscious characterization.