Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) was an iconic American dancer and choreographer. He is widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to contemporary dance, as well as his collaboration with composer John Cage. Cunningham’s avant-garde approach to choreography challenged traditional notions of dance, incorporating chance operations and non-linear movements.
Cunningham established the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953, which became known for its innovative and experimental performances. Throughout his career, he created over 200 choreographic works, exploring new possibilities in movement, space, and time.
One of Cunningham’s key beliefs was the independence of dance from music and narrative. He often developed his choreography independently from the music, and his dancers learned their movements without any musical accompaniment. This approach allowed for unexpected and unique combinations of dance and sound.
Cunningham’s impact on contemporary dance continues to be felt today. His legacy lives on through the Merce Cunningham Trust, which preserves and promotes his work. His innovative and influential ideas continue to inspire choreographers, dancers, and audiences around the world.
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Stephen Petronio Company presents our 35th Anniversary Season at NYU Skirball April 11-13, 2019 with the world premiere of American Landscapes, and the fifth instalment of the company’s Bloodlines project. This series of revivals of works by titans of postmodern dance continues with Merce Cunningham’s playful Tread (1970), performed with live music from Composers Inside…
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The iconic Merce Cunningham and the last generation of his dance company is stunningly profiled in Alla Kovgan’s 3D documentary, through recreations of his landmark works and archival footage of Cunningham, John Cage, and Robert Rauschenberg. Even for those who know little about dance, Merce Cunningham is a recognizable name – an iconic figure in…
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In 2009, McGregor created a diptych of works to celebrate the centenary of the magnificent Ballets Russes – Dyad 1909 in London and Dyad 1929 in Melbourne. Dyad 1929 was performed to Steve Reich’s Double Sextet, with stage concept by McGregor and Lucy Carter, and costumes by Moritz Junge. This was McGregor’s first work with…
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Acclaimed as one of America’s foremost dancemakers, Paul Taylor (1930-2018) created a remarkable repertoire of 147 works, many recognized as contemporary classics and culminating with Concertiana. He performed with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, but focused his energies on his own company for over sixty years. He first came to Jacob’s Pillow as a dancer…
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Dedicated to presenting works from choreographers past and present, New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) returns with a new program of Legends and Visionaries, a series that focuses on infrequently performed masterpieces by legendary choreographers and new works from contemporary visionaries. The program will feature Scramble, a piece by Merce Cunningham created in 1957 with sets…
