Born: 1886 (Hanover, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia)
Died: 1973
Biography:
Mary Wigman (born Karoline Sophie Marie Wiegmann; 13 November 1886 – 18 September 1973) was a German dancer and choreographer, known as the pioneer of expressionist dance, dance therapy, and movement training without pointe shoes. She is considered one of the most important figures in the history of modern dance. Wigman became an iconic figure of Weimar German culture, and her work was praised for bringing profound existential experiences to the stage.
Karoline Sophie Marie Wiegmann was born in Hanover, in the Province of Hanover in the Kingdom of Prussia. As a child, she was already called Mary, a name that reflected the history of Hanover as the former kings of England. Her father was a bicycle dealer, and her upbringing provided her with a diverse cultural background. Wigman spent her youth in Hanover, England, the Netherlands, and Lausanne, which influenced her artistic development.
Although she came to dance relatively late, Wigman was captivated by the art form after witnessing three students of Émile Jaques-Dalcroze. These students emphasized the fusion of movement and music through solfège, improvisation, and a system of movements called Dalcroze eurhythmics. Intrigued by this approach, Wigman pursued rhythmic gymnastics in Hellerau from 1910 to 1911 under the guidance of Jaques-Dalcroze and Suzanne Perrottet. However, she felt artistically unfulfilled in this environment, as she sought movements that were independent of music and allowed for personal physical expression.
In search of a more fulfilling dance experience, Wigman traveled to Rome and Berlin, where she encountered the influential dancer Grete Wiesenthal. Wiesenthal’s solo concert left a lasting impression on Wigman and inspired her to further explore the realm of dance.
In 1913, following the advice of the German-Danish expressionist painter Emil Nolde, Wigman enrolled in the Rudolf von Laban School for Art on Monte Verità in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Laban was a significant figure in the development of modern expressive dance and Labanotation. Under his tutelage, Wigman developed a technique based on contrasting movements, such as expansion and contraction, pulling and pushing. She attended Laban’s summer and winter sessions in Switzerland and Munich until 1919, immersing herself in his teachings and refining her own unique style.
During her time in Munich, Wigman showcased her first public dances, including Hexentanz I, Lento, and Ein Elfentanz. Throughout World War I, she remained in Switzerland, assisting Laban and teaching in Zurich and Ascona. In 1917, Wigman presented various dance programs in Zurich, featuring pieces like Der Tänzer unserer lieben Frau, Das Opfer, Tempeltanz, Götzendienst, and four Hungarian dances.
Wigman’s innovative approach to dance was met with resounding success, leading to the establishment of her own dance school in Dresden in 1920. The Mary Wigman School quickly became a center for expressionist dance and attracted students from all over the world. Wigman’s teachings focused on the expressive potential of the body and encouraged her students to discover their unique movement vocabulary.
Throughout her career, Wigman continued to push the boundaries of dance, experimenting with new forms of expression and incorporating elements of psychology into her work. She explored the depths of human emotion and sought to convey the inner struggles and desires of the individual on stage. Wigman believed that dance had the power to tap into the collective unconscious and connect with audiences on a profound level.
Wigman’s impact on the dance world was immeasurable. She inspired countless dancers and choreographers with her revolutionary approach to movement and her exploration of the expressive possibilities of the human body. Her contributions to modern dance paved the way for future generations and continue to shape the art form today.
Awards:
– German Dance Prize (1934)
– Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1951)
– Order of Merit of Berlin (1962)
– Berlin Art Prize (1965)