Dancers from the Martha Graham Dance Company wore custom costumes designed by Daniella Kallmeyer at the company's 100th anniversary gala. The performance took place at the New York Public Library. Kallmeyer drew inspiration from her early experiences with Graham's work.
At the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 100th Anniversary Gala held at the New York Public Library, dancers Xin Ying and Lloyd Knight performed an excerpt from O Thou Desire Who Art About to Sing in custom creations by designer Daniella Kallmeyer. Ying wore a flowing burgundy dress adapted from the Roma gown in Kallmeyer’s pre-fall 2026 collection, transformed into a leotard with retained movement and one-shouldered drape. Knight complemented the look with a matching burgundy cummerbund that highlighted his silhouette, echoing Graham’s frequent use of red in costumes. Kallmeyer described the project as a full-circle moment, noting she had designed her pre-fall collection with Martha Graham in mind before the opportunity arose. “She was known for dancing in these beautiful dresses with so much fabric, and incorporating the garments into the choreography,” Kallmeyer said. “I often think about the way bodies move within my clothes, and a lot of the proportions that inspire me come from that world.” The designer’s connection to Graham dates back to her youth, when she attended a summer dance intensive at the Martha Graham School in New York. Kallmeyer has long appreciated the interplay of costume and dance, citing early performances like Graham’s Lamentation and a Philip Glass Ballet at the American Ballet Theatre as pivotal influences.
