Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Merce Cunningham Dance Company
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Name	Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Type	Modern dance
Location	New York City
Founder	Merce Cunningham
Year	1953

Merce Cunningham Dance Company was a renowned modern dance company founded by Merce Cunningham in 1953, known for its innovative and avant-garde style, which collaborated with artists such as John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol. The company's unique approach to dance, music, and visual arts was influenced by Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Vaslav Nijinsky. With its headquarters in New York City, the company performed at various venues, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. The company's dancers, such as Viola Farber, Steve Paxton, and Trisha Brown, went on to become prominent figures in the postmodern dance movement, working with companies like Judson Dance Theater and Grand Union.

● History

The company's history is closely tied to the development of modern dance and postmodern dance, with Merce Cunningham drawing inspiration from Ballets Russes and Sergei Diaghilev. The company's early years were marked by collaborations with Black Mountain College, where Merce Cunningham worked with John Cage and Buckminster Fuller. The company's performances were often accompanied by music composed by John Cage, Earle Brown, and Gordon Mumma, and featured sets and costumes designed by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. The company toured extensively, performing at festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Avignon Festival, and worked with other companies, including the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.

● Founding and Early Years

The company was founded in 1953 by Merce Cunningham, with the goal of creating a new kind of dance that was more experimental and collaborative. The company's early years were marked by performances at Black Mountain College, where Merce Cunningham was a faculty member, and at other venues in the United States and Europe. The company's first performance was at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and featured works such as Symphonic Dances and Septet. The company's early dancers included Viola Farber, Steve Paxton, and Trisha Brown, who went on to become prominent figures in the postmodern dance movement, working with companies like Judson Dance Theater and Grand Union, and collaborating with artists such as Yvonne Rainer and Deborah Hay.

● Choreography and Style

The company's choreography and style were characterized by a focus on improvisation and chance procedures, which were influenced by the ideas of John Cage and Marcel Duchamp. The company's dancers were encouraged to develop their own unique style and movement vocabulary, which was influenced by modern dance and ballet techniques, as well as by the work of Merce Cunningham and other choreographers, such as George Balanchine and Alvin Ailey. The company's performances often featured complex and intricate movement patterns, which were accompanied by music and visual arts elements, such as sets and costumes designed by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns. The company's style was also influenced by the work of Vaslav Nijinsky and Sergei Diaghilev, and collaborated with companies like the Ballets Russes and the New York City Ballet.

● Notable Works

The company's notable works include RainForest (1968), which featured a set designed by Andy Warhol and music composed by Gordon Mumma, and Sounddance (1975), which was set to music composed by David Tudor. Other notable works include Un jour ou deux (1973), which featured a set designed by Mark Rothko, and Fabrications (1987), which was set to music composed by Gordon Mumma and featured costumes designed by Rei Kawakubo. The company also performed works by other choreographers, such as Trisha Brown and Steve Paxton, and collaborated with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns on works like Minutiae (1954) and Antic Meet (1958). The company's performances were often accompanied by music composed by John Cage, Earle Brown, and Gordon Mumma, and featured sets and costumes designed by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.

● Legacy and Impact

The company's legacy and impact on the development of modern dance and postmodern dance are significant, with many of its dancers and choreographers going on to become prominent figures in the field, working with companies like Judson Dance Theater and Grand Union. The company's emphasis on improvisation and chance procedures influenced a generation of choreographers, including Trisha Brown and Steve Paxton, and its collaborations with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns helped to blur the boundaries between dance, music, and visual arts. The company's performances were also influenced by the work of Vaslav Nijinsky and Sergei Diaghilev, and collaborated with companies like the Ballets Russes and the New York City Ballet. The company's legacy continues to be felt today, with its influence visible in the work of companies such as the New York City Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre, and in the work of choreographers such as William Forsythe and Twyla Tharp.

● Company and Dancers

The company was composed of a diverse group of dancers, including Viola Farber, Steve Paxton, and Trisha Brown, who went on to become prominent figures in the postmodern dance movement, working with companies like Judson Dance Theater and Grand Union. The company's dancers were known for their technical skill and versatility, and were encouraged to develop their own unique style and movement vocabulary, which was influenced by modern dance and ballet techniques, as well as by the work of Merce Cunningham and other choreographers, such as George Balanchine and Alvin Ailey. The company's dancers also collaborated with other artists, such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, on works like Minutiae (1954) and Antic Meet (1958), and performed at festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Avignon Festival. The company's performances were often accompanied by music composed by John Cage, Earle Brown, and Gordon Mumma, and featured sets and costumes designed by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns.

Category:Dance companies