This winter, Class IV dancers explored the work of pioneering choreographer Martha Graham through a series of short movement studies inspired by her 1990 piece Maple Leaf Rag. Set to a tune composed by Scott Joplin, the studies introduced students to Graham’s distinctive movement vocabulary while encouraging them to engage with the playful and expressive qualities at the heart of the work.

In Maple Leaf Rag, Graham blended her signature modern dance technique with elements of social dance, and Class IV students echoed that fusion by incorporating the Charleston into their own choreography. As they rehearsed and performed, dancers explored musicality, coordination, and storytelling through movement, gaining insight into how choreography can bridge styles and eras while connecting them to one of the most influential figures in modern dance.