Graham 2, the Martha Graham School’s acclaimed performing ensemble, will present a holiday event on Saturday, December 14, featuring some of Martha Graham’s iconic dances, from an early solo that revealed her star quality as a dancer to the last dance she choreographed on her full Company. 

The family-friendly program includes Serenata Morisca (1916) by Ted Shawn, Satyric Festival Song (1932), and excerpts from El Penitente (1940), Cave of the Heart (1946), Appalachian Spring (1944), and the elegantly wittyMaple Leaf Rag (1990). A dancer from the Martha Graham Dance Company will make a surprise appearance. 

A festive guessing game will be woven into the program giving audience members a chance to win prizes. These include tickets to the Martha Graham Dance Company’s New York Season at the Joyce Theater in April 2025, an invitation to see an open rehearsal with Graham 2, and other exciting offerings. Additionally, the event will feature crafts, snacks, and goodie bags for the younger set, and a chance to dance and be photographed with the dancers!

The 2024 holiday event is part of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s popular Studio Series, which offers audiences an up-close look at the work of the Company and Graham 2 in the intimate setting of the Martha Graham Studio Theater.

About Graham 2

Graham 2 is Martha Graham’s second company and is composed of early-career dancers who study at the Martha Graham School. Its mission is to bring the Graham tradition to audiences of all ages, smaller venues, and cultural communities, and to be a springboard for young dancers to enter the professional dance world. Graham 2 dancers are supported by a scholarship, receive stipends for performances, and are often given opportunities to perform with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Seventy percent of the current Company began as members of Graham 2.

Under the direction of Virginie Mécène since 2007, Graham 2 performs Graham’s repertory and has performed the works of guest choreographers such as Robert Battle, Pascal Rioult, Adam Barruch, Kun-Yang Lin, Robert Cohan, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Blanca Li, Brice Mousset, Yoshito Sakuraba, Bradley Shelver, and Virginie Mécène. Committed to its education outreach program, Graham 2 performs for more than 3,000 public school children each year. Graham 2 has performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company at the New York City Center and the Joyce Theater, and has an annual performance season at the Martha Graham Studio Theater. The troupe has also performed at such leading New York venues as the 92NY, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, LaGuardia Community College, Iona College, and in such cities as Miami, FL, Baltimore, MD, Wintergreen, VA, Cherry Hill, NJ, Pittsburgh, PA, and Barcelona, Spain.