How did Martha Graham become interested in dance?

Martha Graham’s interest in dance was fostered by her early exposure to diverse cultural influences and her formal training at the Denishawn school.

Growing up, Graham was influenced by her father, a physician who held a keen interest in the bodily expression of human behavior. After her family moved to Santa Barbara in 1909, she became acquainted with Asian art and the rhythms of the sea, elements that would later permeate her choreography.1

Her professional journey began in 1916 at Denishawn, the school and company founded by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. At Denishawn, Graham was introduced to a wide-ranging curriculum that explored various global dance traditions, including folk, classical, and Native American styles. While she was captivated by the religious mysticism of St. Denis, it was her teacher Ted Shawn who recognized her dramatic potential and helped channel it into her first major success, the Aztec ballet Xochitl, which established her as a star.1