Dancing in the Streets
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company
- “Got to Dance!” (Ode to Gene Kelly)
- “Martha’s Maze” (Ode to Martha Graham)
- “Dance a Little Longer” (Ode to Woody and Marjorie Guthrie)
World Premiere: The world premiere will be given by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Manfred Honeck, Music Director, at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 19, 2026.
Program Note:
Dancing in the Streets was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company.
In America, dance emerged in the 20th century as a significant art form, with dancers and choreographers challenging social norms and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. By blending movements from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, dance became a powerful vehicle for expressing democratic ideals and the spirit of freedom. This fusion not only celebrated individuality and creativity but also encouraged greater acceptance and understanding across communities, making dance a reflection of America’s evolving identity.
Dancing in the Streets is inspired by the achievements of four influential figures in the world of dance. My dance symphony is structured into three distinct movements, performed without pause:
The first movement, “Got to Dance!,” is a salute to Gene Kelly (b. Pittsburgh, 1912-1996), who created a new form of American dance which he called “dance for the common man.” He revolutionized the Hollywood musicals of the 1950s, such as Singing in the Rain” by blending vernacular dance idioms with modern, ballet, and jazz. Kelly also studied dance with Martha Graham in the early 1940s.
The second movement, “Martha’s Maze,” is a tribute to dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (b. Pittsburgh, 1894-1991), considered the “Mother of Modern Dance.” Establishing her own dance company in 1926, she approached modern dance and theater in a revolutionary way, and developed an innovative physical vocabulary that influenced dance worldwide.
The third movement, “Dance a Little Longer,” pays homage to the American folk singer and political activist Woody Guthrie (b. Okemah, OK, 1912-1967), who wrote the iconic “This Land is Your Land” (1940), and his wife, Marjorie Guthrie (b. Atlantic City, NJ, 1917-1983), who was a principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company and appeared in the world premiere of “Appalachian Spring” (1944). Woody and Marjorie collaborated on modern dance projects, children’s songs, and progressive political causes.
–Michael Daugherty
