Mary Wigman

Wigman, Mary (Wigman, Mary) (1886-1973), German dancer, teacher and choreographer, founder of the European expressive plastic dance 'modern' (Ausdruckstanz).
Wigman was born in Hanover on Nov. 13, 1886. Her first public performance took place in 1910. In 1911 she decided to go to school E.Zhak-Dalcroze in Hellerau (Bayern Munich).

Switzerland Wigman began to put dance in 1920 opened his own school in Dresden - Central Institute of Wigman. Here she has put a series of solo and group dance, originally choreographed it was surprising, but later appeared at the Wigman aficionados.

Wigman believed that classical ballet with its rounded, 'fluid' plastics can transmit only feelings of joy and tenderness. She also wanted to express in their dances violent, tragic sense, and because the movement had become strong, sharp, angular, instead of the usual nice-sounding, melodic ballet music Wigman used the sounds of drums, gongs, cymbals.

Wigman first came to New York in 1930. For several years, performances of the troupe throughout the country vexed. Eventually Wigman received recognition from the public, which is assessed not only the technical novelty of her art, but also his humanity and pathos.

During the Second World War Wigman School in Leipzig, was closed, and she had to teach the usual classical dance. In 1950 she opened a new school in Dahlem, a suburb of Berlin.

Wigman died in West Berlin on September 18, 1973.