Synopsis

Diversion of Angels is a lyric dance about the loveliness of youth, the pleasure and playfulness, quick joy and quick sadness of being in love for the first time.

The dance follows no story.  Its action takes place in the imaginary garden love creates for itself. 

The ballet was originally called Wilderness Stair.  Martha Graham once described Diversion of Angels as three aspects of love; the white couple represents mature love in perfect balance; red, erotic love; and yellow, adolescent love.

Notes

The following quote from Ben Belitt was used by Martha Graham as a poetic program note for Diversion of Angels.  It is a poetic narrative that has the same feeling as the piece.

“It is the place of the Rock and Ladder, the raven, the blessing, the tempter, the rose.  It is the wish of the single-hearted, the undivided; play after the spirit’s labor; games, flights, fancies, configurations of the lover’s intention; the believed Possibility, at once strenuous and tender; humors of innocence, garlands, evangels, Joy on the wilderness stair; diversion of angels.”

– Ben Belitt