The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, located in New York City, serves as the headquarters for both the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and the acclaimed Martha Graham Dance Company. The Dance Company holds the distinction of being the oldest continually performing contemporary dance company in the world. The associated School is dedicated to preserving and teaching Graham's revolutionary technique, with some faculty members having been personally trained by Martha Graham herself, ensuring the authentic transmission of her artistic legacy.

The Center was established in 1926 by the legendary Martha Graham. Its humble beginnings saw it operating out of a small dance studio on Broadway. Over time, the Center expanded and relocated to a more substantial two-story building situated at 316 East 63rd Street in New York, a location that became synonymous with Graham's pioneering work in modern dance.

Following Martha Graham's passing in 1991, the Center faced a significant challenge regarding its leadership and the ownership of Graham's artistic property. Graham's will named Ron Protas as the heir to her estate, leading him to claim rights over her name and extensive choreographic repertoire. This resulted in a protracted legal battle where Protas sued the Martha Graham Dance Company for trademark infringement. After years of contentious court proceedings, the Martha Graham Dance Company ultimately prevailed, being ruled the rightful owner of the Graham name and nearly all of her iconic repertoire. During this dispute, Protas was also voted out of his position as the company's artistic director.

In a notable recognition of its cultural importance, the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance was among 406 arts and social service institutions in New York City to receive a portion of a $20 million grant in 2005. This substantial funding was provided by the Carnegie Corporation, made possible through a generous donation from then-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, underscoring the Center's enduring value to the city's vibrant cultural landscape and its continued mission to advance contemporary dance.