WIGMAN, Mary

A pioneer of German Expressionist dance, Wigman began her training with the music theoretician Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (1865–1950), who created Eurhythmies, in Hellarau near Dresden. She later collaborated with the movement analyst Rudolf van Laban (1879–1958), who developed a movement notation system called Labanotation. Dancing barefoot, exploring primitive rhythms and motifs, experimenting with costumes, props, and masks, Wigman created numerous distinguished solos and group works. Largely abstract,...