Join us for a special evening of film and conversation featuring Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company, and Peggy Lyman Hayes, former principal dancer. Both of whom worked closely with Martha Graham and performed many of her iconic roles.
The evening includes a screening of A Dancer’s World (1957), a poetic film in which Graham reflects on the making of a dancer while preparing for the stage. Also featured is The Dancer Revealed (1994), a compelling PBS “American Masters” biography rich with rare archival footage.
As guests arrive, an excerpt from The Graham Technique produced in 1975 will be on view.
Wine and refreshments will be served, courtesy of National Iron Bank.
A conversation and Q&A with Janet & Peggy will follow in which they will share personal insights and memories, moderated by Catherine Tharin.
Janet Eilber has been Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance Company since 2005. Her creative curation has pioneered new forms of audience access to the Graham legacy. These diverse initiatives include her popular spoken introductions, thematic programming, unusual educational and cultural partnerships, licensing of the Graham classics to schools and professional companies, the use of new media and technology, commissions for today’s top choreographers and a wide range of creative events such as the Lamentation Variations, The 19 Poses, All-City Panorama and the Clytemnestra Remash Challenge. Ms. Eilber has reconstructed the lost Graham solos Satyric Festival Song and Immediate Tragedy and remixed Graham choreography for productions of The Bacchae and Prometheus Bound at the Teatro Greco in Siracusa, Italy, and for an upcoming production, The Feast with the Long Beach Opera starring renowned countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski. Ms. Eilber is a graduate of the Juilliard School where she was mentored by teachers of the Graham and Limón legacies and directed by José Limón in several of his classics. While still at Juilliard, she was invited to join the Graham Company where she worked closely with Martha Graham for almost a decade. She danced many of Graham’s greatest roles, had roles created for her by Graham, and was directed by Graham in most of the major roles of the repertory. She soloed at the White House, was partnered by Rudolf Nureyev, starred in three segments of Dance in America, and worked with Graham’s major collaborators such as Isamu Noguchi, Aaron Copland and Halston. She has since taught, lectured, and directed Graham ballets internationally for companies such as the Dutch National Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. See full bio
Peggy Lyman Hayes, was celebrated by the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2024 during their season at New York City Center Theater. Ms. Lyman has been a cornerstone of the Graham legacy for over 50 years. An Ohio native, Peggy Lyman Hayes embarked on her journey with the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1973, marking the beginning of a remarkable career that would shape the landscape of modern dance. Throughout her tenure with the company, Lyman Hayes mesmerized audiences with her captivating performances, embodying the essence of Graham's choreography with grace and precision. From iconic roles to intricate solos, she brought depth and authenticity to every movement, earning acclaim from critics and peers alike. Beyond her accomplishments as a performer, Peggy Lyman Hayes made significant contributions to the field of dance education. In 1994 Lyman helped found the dance division of The Hartt School in Connecticut, where she was director from 2001 to 2004 nurturing aspiring dancers, instilling in them a deep appreciation for the art form and a commitment to excellence. She received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the University of Hartford in 2011. Her visionary leadership paved the way for countless students to pursue their dreams and make their mark on the world stage.
Catherine Tharin is a choreographer, writer, curator, and educator. She holds a BA from Connecticut College and an MA in Dance Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. A former member of the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Tharin performed nationally and internationally with the company from 1988 to 1994. Her choreographic work continues to be shaped by the aesthetic legacy of Erick Hawkins and composer Lucia Dlugoszewski. For 15 years, Tharin served as Dance and Performance Curator at the 92nd Street Y where she presented acclaimed choreographers across genres alongside emerging voices, as well as composers, designers, authors, critics, videographers, and photographers. She was also a senior adjunct professor at Iona College for two decades. Her writing on dance has appeared in The Dance Enthusiast, Interlocutor, Side of Culture, and on WAMC, an NPR affiliate in the Hudson Valley. She has also contributed reviews to The Boston Globe. Tharin currently curates The Dance Series at the Stissing Center in Pine Plains, NY. Throughout her career, she has championed both innovative and legacy choreography, supported the work of artists across the field, and brought critical attention to the art form. Her latest dance, performed in June at Arts on Site, was noted as "powerfully animated, positively fizzy, full of droll wit" (Fjord), "The piece blended dance, art, and language into a layered meditation on love and emotional vulnerability" (Eye on Dance).