Martha Graham Dance Company Shines in Berkeley Debut

The century-old dance troupe's long-awaited Bay Area return proves its works still feel urgent and fiercely modern.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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More than a decade after its last visit, the Martha Graham Dance Company finally returned to the Bay Area, bringing the essential elements of the Martha Graham iconography - passion, sexual angst, and the spectacle of women's abdominal strength. The performance at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall on Saturday, February 14th demonstrated the simple strokes of genius that make Graham's dances timelessly fascinating, with works like the 1936 piece "Chronicle" showcasing the company's rigorous movement system.

Why it matters

The Martha Graham Dance Company's return to the Bay Area is significant, as it allows local audiences to experience the pioneering choreographer's groundbreaking works that have influenced generations of dancers and choreographers. Graham's dances are in constant dialogue with current times, and the company's visit provides an opportunity to appreciate the enduring power and relevance of her artistic vision.

The details

The program featured Graham's iconic works like "Night Journey" and "Chronicle," which demonstrated the company's technical mastery and the timeless quality of the choreography. The performance also included a new commission, "Cortege," by the Brooklyn-based duo Baye & Asa, which struggled to capture the compositional lessons of Graham's work. The company's visit was particularly notable given its recent cancellation of a Kennedy Center engagement, echoing Graham's own decision to decline an invitation to perform at the 1936 Olympics in Germany due to the persecution of artists by the Nazis.

  • The Martha Graham Dance Company's last visit to the Bay Area was more than a decade ago.
  • The company's performance at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • The company's matinee performance on Sunday, February 15, 2026, promised newer works by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members Jamar Roberts and Hope Boykin, as well as Graham's celebrated "Appalachian Spring".

The players

Martha Graham Dance Company

The oldest dance company in the United States, known for its pioneering choreographer Martha Graham and her iconic works that have influenced generations of dancers and choreographers.

Leslie Andrea Williams

A dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company who performed the lead role in the 1936 work "Chronicle".

Baye & Asa

A Brooklyn-based choreographic duo who created a new work, "Cortege," for the Martha Graham Dance Company's program.

Lloyd Knight

A dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company who performed the role of Oedipus in the 1947 work "Night Journey".

Anne Souder

A dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company who performed the role of Queen Jocasta in the 1947 work "Night Journey".

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What they’re saying

“Every tense jump, every clenched-fist gesture is part of a rigorous movement system trained into these dancers as deeply as language itself.”

— Rachel Howard, Author (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Graham's work will always be in conversation with current times, but under the direction of Janet Eilber, the company has increasingly commissioned new works to keep from becoming a troupe of museum pieces.”

— Rachel Howard, Author (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The Martha Graham Dance Company is expected to return to the Bay Area soon, and local dance presenters are considering establishing an annual "Graham Week" to further immerse the community in the company's pioneering works and their ongoing influence on the art form.

The takeaway

The Martha Graham Dance Company's long-awaited return to the Bay Area proved that the choreographer's century-old works still feel urgent, theatrical, and fiercely modern, underscoring the enduring power and relevance of Graham's artistic vision and its continued impact on the dance world.