How did Martha Graham’s technique differ from classical ballet?

Martha Graham’s technique differed significantly from classical ballet by rejecting its focus on decorative, graceful displays in favor of expressing raw, visceral human emotion and psychological depth.12

Key differences include:

• Core Principles: While ballet often seeks to defy gravity and conceal the physical strain of movement, Graham’s technique emphasized the dancer's weight and the struggle against physical limitations. Her movement was centered in the pelvis, utilizing a foundational principle of "contraction and release" rather than the upright, elongated lines typical of ballet.341
• Aesthetics: Graham’s vocabulary was intentionally jagged, angular, and distorted, often featuring flexed feet and clenched fists to convey passion, frustration, or conflict. Unlike the formal, often fairy-tale narratives of traditional ballet, her works explored the "inner man," frequently utilizing flashback techniques and shifting timescales to portray complex psychological states.3412
• Movement and Space: Modern dance often incorporates movements close to or on the floor, contrasting with ballet’s emphasis on the upright stance. Graham’s choreography utilized three-dimensional set pieces and sculpture to create a dramatic environment, moving away from the hierarchical division between principals and the corps de ballet found in traditional companies.413