Mary Wigman Biography

Mary Wigman was a German dancer and choreographer, considered as one of the most noteworthy pioneers in the history of modern dance. Her contributions to the genre are remarkable and she is regarded as the founder of modern dance movement. Born as Karoline Sophie Marie Wiegmann, she came of age during World War I and learnt the art of dancing through her sheer dedication. She realized that dance could act as a powerful medium to express human passions and aspirations. After developing her unique expressionist or ‘absolute’ style of dance, she established a dance school in Germany which quickly became known as a center for modern artistic innovation. She attracted a number of disciples, and conducted international tours with her troupe during the 1930s. Her approach was certainly unique at the time as she turned to distant cultures for sources with which to interpret her choreography. Her dancing style made use of non-Western musical instruments such as gongs, drums, and bells which effectively created an edgy, contemplative, and gloomy atmosphere in her performances. Despite the ‘dark’ compositions, her performances were entrenched with a hint of delight and warmth in them. She emerged as a major influence on American modern dance.