A rare opportunity to see two Greek-themed modernist works by the Martha Graham Dance Company, performed within the context of the Joint 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society for Classical Studies (SCS) and Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) in Philadelphia
The Martha Graham Dance Company (MGDC), will perform two of Graham’s Greek-inspired works in a unique presentation exploring modern interpretations of ancient myths. This production seeks to engage both scholars attending the Annual Meeting and the people of Philadelphia. As part of the Graham100 celebrations, in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the company’s founding in 1926, this particular production celebrates Graham’s deep engagement with ancient Greece, her groundbreaking renditions of female Greek heroes, and the enduring power of ancient mythology in the arts.
Dance performances of Graham’s iconic Cave of the Heart (1946), her retelling of the Medea myth, and Errand into the Maze (1947), a work inspired by the story of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur, will be followed by a Q&A session with the performers and MGDC Artistic Director Janet Eilber. The Q&A will be moderated by Dr. Nina Papathanasopoulou, SCS’s Public Engagement Coordinator, whose scholarly expertise centers on Graham’s profound engagement with Greek mythology.
The event is organized by James Ker and Nina Papathanasopoulou, members of the SCS Committee on Classics in the Community, and is made possible by the SCS, the Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Classical Studies. Additional organizational support was provided by Kelsey Skordal, SCS’s Communications and Services Coordinator, and Cherane Ali, SCS’s Director of Meetings.
An academic panel, “Dance and Myth: The Reception of the Greeks by Martha Graham and Myth,” will take place earlier the same day from 11:00am–1:00pm, at the SCS Annual Meeting at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown and will include academic papers together with discussion by directors and performers. Details about the Annual Meeting and the panel can be found on the SCS Website.
This performance is part of the Society for Classical Studies / Archaeological Institute of America Joint 2025 Annual Meeting and made possible by the generous support of:
The Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
The Department of Classical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, with the support of Keith A.,C’83, and Alixandra Morgan
The Committee on Classics in the Community, Society for Classical Studies