SIGN UP FOR 1 WEEK or ALL 3 WEEKS!
DECEMBER 28 – JANUARY 15
The Martha Graham School Winter Intensive offers dancers a rigorous program in the Martha Graham Technique™, Martha Graham Repertory, ChoreoLAB (Dance Composition), Ballet, and Contemporary. The Intensive is specifically designed for students and professionals who are unable to attend the Martha Graham School year-round or who wish to progress rapidly in a short amount of time in the Graham Technique. The Intensive culminates in a studio showing on January 15th, highlighting student achievements in Repertory and Composition classes. Students will also have the option to audition for Professional Certificate Programs on Saturday, January 16th
A RIGOROUS FOUNDATION IN GRAHAM TECHNIQUE
“Freedom to a dancer means discipline, that is what technique is —Liberation.” – Martha Graham
Open to dancers 18 years or older, the Winter Intensive provides a rigorous program in Graham Technique and Repertory, Ballet, Contemporary, ChoreoLAB, and much more. Classes are taught by world-class dance professionals — including former and current Martha Graham Company dancers — held in-person at Martha Graham Studios in New York City
The Graham Technique is a physical language that requires a substantial amount of practice and each level of the Martha Graham Technique syllabus offers challenges and necessary steps to achieve optimal development.
Students registering for Level III and IV must have prior approval of a Graham teacher and extensive Graham training in order to safely execute the advanced level of material. Graham Faculty and Program Managers reserve the right to adjust a student’s level to ensure safety, proper practice and appropriate development.
A RIGOROUS FOUNDATION IN GRAHAM TECHNIQUE
“Freedom to a dancer means discipline, that is what technique is —Liberation.” – Martha Graham
Open to dancers 18 years or older, the Winter Intensive provides a rigorous program in Graham Technique and Repertory, Ballet, Contemporary, ChoreoLAB, and much more. Classes are taught by world-class dance professionals — including former and current Martha Graham Company dancers — held in-person at Martha Graham Studios in New York City
The Graham Technique is a physical language that requires a substantial amount of practice and each level of the Martha Graham Technique syllabus offers challenges and necessary steps to achieve optimal development.
Students registering for Level III and IV must have prior approval of a Graham teacher and extensive Graham training in order to safely execute the advanced level of material. Graham Faculty and Program Managers reserve the right to adjust a student’s level to ensure safety, proper practice and appropriate development.
INTENSIVE COURSES (click for descriptions)
Levels I, II, III, IV
The Martha Graham Technique is based on the core power of Graham’s signature contraction and release. The Technique promotes strength, stamina, and self-expression and serves as a foundation for excellence in many styles of dance. Each level is specifically designed for students to progress rapidly.
Graham Teachers evaluate each dancer to ensure they are in the proper level. Students may not change level (higher or lower) during the Intensive without prior approval by their assigned Graham Instructor.
Click here to see Graham level descriptions
Intermediate and Advanced
Repertory introduces students to Graham’s classic choreography to gain a deeper understanding of her expressive style as well as practice in valuable performance techniques. Dancers must register for Graham Technique for the duration of the Repertory class, which is offered at an intermediate or advanced pace.
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced
Martha Graham School ballet training is adapted for individual student abilities at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Classes are structured to enhance and support the study of Martha Graham Technique.
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced
Contemporary classes build upon Graham Technique and encourage dancers to explore the connections between this classic approach and post-modern styles.
ChoreoLAB has been refined as a space for you to try out new ideas. We understand that emerging choreographers struggle with generating movement ideas and organizing their movement ideas in ways that make sense to them. We have designed this course to help choreographers explore a range of ways to work by “trying on” the creative processes of other established choreographers. Each week, you will be able to explore a different choreographer’s way of working and solving creative problems.
This class will be used as a survey of the many different ways to use Improvisation in dance. We will use the dance elements as prompts for Improvisational exploration and structure: Body Exploration, Energy Exploration, Space Exploration, and Time Exploration.
We are excited to offer a contemporary partnering class that will explore a range of partnering tips/tricks to be safe, traditional and contemporary ways of partnering and new ideas for sharing weight with another person.
MODERN CLASSICS SERIES
The Modern Classics Series is a sequence of three weekly master classes celebrating early classic modern dance form creators, including Lester Horton, Katherine Dunham and Merce Cunningham. Each left a legacy that continues to inspire artists and audiences around the world. Many of their students carried the classics forwards and left important impacts on the art form themselves.
All masterclasses are held on Wednesdays for 90 minutes followed by a 30 minute Q & A with the instructor. Open to all levels attending the Winter Intensive and a minimum of 1 week of Graham Technique enrollment is required for participation.
GRAHAM TEACHER WORKSHOPS
NEW STRUCTURE Each week, there will be in-person workshops, designed for instructors with or without Graham teaching experience who wish to deepen their understanding of the Martha Graham Technique. Each workshop is 10 hours of detailed instruction (5 days, 2 hours each day), course materials and costs $600. Click a workshop for more information and learn about the instructor.
Register for one workshop or all three!
MASTER TEACHERS, DIRECT LINEAGE
The Winter Intensive is led by senior faculty trained directly in the Graham technique, including former and current members of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Many of our distinguished faculty have learned from Martha Graham herself. Full roster announced October 2026.
INVEST IN YOUR PRACTICE
Tuition is structured by class type and number of weeks. Build your schedule around Graham Technique as the foundation, then add electives to suit your training goals.
The Winter Intensive runs as a single 3-week session (Dec 28 – Jan 15). All per-week and per-session prices below reflect the 3-week rate. Classes fill quickly — register early to ensure placement.
| CLASS | 1 WEEK | 2 WEEKS | 3 WEEKS (full) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Technique | $200 | $400 | $600 |
| Contemporary | $50 | $95 | $140 |
| Ballet | $50 | $95 | $140 |
| Modern Classics Series* | $40 | $80 | $120 |
| Repertory** | 3-week session only | $375 | |
| ChoreoLAB* | 3-week session only | $375 | |
| Improvisation* | 3-week session only | $150 | |
| Contemporary Partnering* | 3-week session only | $150 | |
* Requires at least 1 week of Graham Technique enrollment.
** Requires 3 weeks of Graham Technique. Levels III and IV require prior approval of a Graham teacher.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the Winter Intensive, view the Frequently Asked Questions or contact Tami Alesson at talesson@marthagraham.org.