Educational Media Reviews Online

This biographical documentary frames the American dance educator Martha Hill (1900-1995) within the larger context of twentieth century American ballet and modern dance. When Hill came from small-town Ohio to New York City, she initially studied dance with Martha Graham. Out of a need for steady employment, she established herself as a dance teacher rather than continue to pursue a career as a dancer.

Hill’s reputation as a dance teacher led to her invitation to begin the dance program at Bennington College in the 1930s. There, she created two innovations in dance and higher education that exist to this day: first, she made dance part of liberal arts education; and second, she brought leading dance artists of the time, like José Limon, from New York to work directly with students.

In 1951, Hill was invited to start the Dance Division at the Julliard School. When the Juilliard Dance Division was outmaneuvered by the New York City Ballet in their plan to move to the newly built Lincoln Center, Hill ran a successful petitioning campaign that eventually won Juilliard Dance its studio space in Lincoln Center. This story is a fascinating part of the film that touches both the topics of Cold War politics and America’s desire to prove that its own dance forms were equal to those of Europe.

Miss Hill: Making Dance Matter presents its subject within the American myth of the self-made man, or in this case, self-made woman. Hill is portrayed as a dancer who became a teacher and impresario out of necessity, then invented dance in higher education. Yet this seemingly simplistic narrative is well-told by insightful interviews and archival footage. This film, perhaps unknowingly, shows that Hill is a person who is so needed now as we question the value of liberal arts education in its current fragile state. Higher education administrators, arts advocates and dance majors would all benefit from knowing Martha Hill’s story, and for this reason, it is recommended viewing.