Comparative analysis on movement expression shown in the works of Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins - Utilizing BESS -

Abstract

This essay aims to explore movement characteristics of Martha Graham's「Night Journey」and Erick Hawkins' 「Plains Daybreak」 by using Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). My research questions are how Graham moves her body; how Hawkins moves his body; and how their movements create their signature styles. The driving forces behind Graham's movements were pelvic initiation along with core support which tries into the deep suffering evident in her pieces. Hawkins's movements primarily consist of unitary sequencing, lateral pelvic shift, body half, pelvic initiation, and upper and lower homologous movements. The movements reflect animalistic ones. The pieces of both Graham and Hawkins consist in the Mobile State and the Remote State, and the Vision Drive. Hawkins's piece is about breath, not strength. Hawkins's emphasis on Recuperation reflects his feeling of the importance of breath. He was indeed influenced by the thinking body. I argue that Hawkins's main philosophy is the use of kinesthetic sense along with beautiful movements, which were achieved through the knowledge of the natural science of the body. In addition, movement characteristics of the two choreographers can be explained, though excessively limited, by means of objective technical terms such as LMA.