Following a deconstructive perspective (Buse and Stott 1999 Derrida 1994) and taking up feminist critiques of both autobiography (Benstock 1988 Chanfrault-Duchet 2000) and the effects of embodiment (Phelan 1997 Albright 1997), I theorize autobiography as. Other planned publications include books on Merce Cunningham, Pina Bausch, and other influential figures in contemporary dance. In this article I employ modern dance pioneer Martha Graham’s memoir Blood Memory (1991) to complicate understandings of autobiography. Upcoming publications in GARAGE DANCE include a translation of Terpsichore in Sneakers: Postmodern Dance by Sally Banes, which tells the stories of several important contemporary (or postmodern) dance choreographers, such as Yvonne Rainer, Trisha Brown and Steve Paxton-and Anna Gordeeva’s study on the history of contemporary dance in Russia Three Steps in Delirium. The series brings to the Russian-speaking audience translations of seminal books on the history and theory of contemporary dance currently scarce in the Russian market. After graduating in Theater Studies from the Russian Academy of Theater Arts (GITIS) and completing two Master’s programs at the Sorbonne, she now continues her postgraduate studies at the Research Institute of Art Studies in Russia and at Paul Verlaine University in France. GARAGE DANCE series is edited by international contemporary dance theorist and teacher, former professional dancer Vita Khlopova. Blood Memory invites readers to explore her phenomenal life and highlights the unforgettable images that encompass her work. Blood Memory offers insight into Graham’s ideas and the history of her spiritual search. She liked to speak of the calling of destiny and believed she knew what her destiny was.

Blood Memory, which was written during the last year of her life, features many fascinating details of her phenomenal career in dance and her reminiscences about leading dancers, artists, and musicians she collaborated with, such as Maya Plisetskaya, Rudolf Nureyev, Liza Minelli, Madonna, Aaron Copland, and Alexander Calder.įor Graham, “blood memory” is the innate knowledge we have of the physical experiences lived by our ancestors. Martha Graham (1894–1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. In May 2017, Garage published the first book in the GARAGE DANCE series-Martha Graham’s autobiography, Blood Memory.

Blood Memory by Martha Graham