I couldn’t find much about Merce Cunningham’s dance lineage. He studied dance at what is now called Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He began his professional dance career with the Martha Graham Dance Company. He was with her company for six years as a soloist, and then in 1953 he created the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC). In 1955, only two years after MCDC was founded, his company made its first appearance at Jacob’s Pillow.
Once he had his own company he began to collaborate with other artists. The most influential of all the artists he worked with is John Cage, musical advisor in MCDC from the beginning and Merce’s life partner from the 40’s until Cage’s death in 1992. The two met at Cornish College of the Arts. He, therefore, also worked with David Tudor whom was associated with John Cage.
Another notable artist that Cunningham worked with was Andy Warhol. Warhol created a piece called Clouds which he made for Cunningham’s dance piece called Rainforest in 1968. He worked with Robert Rauschenberg in 1954 in a piece titled Minutiae. A quote from Cunningham, “But with "Minutiae" [1954] a different idea about the addition of décor came in. I asked Robert Rauschenberg to make something for it. The dance was not finished. I did not tell him what to make, only that it could be something that was in the dance area, that we could move through it, around it, and with it if he so liked… He made an object and beautiful as it was, I knew it wouldn’t work, because it needed a pipe to hang on. He made a second one through which we walked, huddled, and climbed. It was like an object in nature.”
Other distinguished artists he collaborated with include: Bruce Nauman—contemporary American artist who was influenced by John Cage and Philip Glass among others, Tacita Dean—best known for her work in 16mm film, Roy Lichtenstein—American pop artist, influenced by popular advertising and comic books, Ernesto Neto—contemporary visual artist, Frank Stella—designed the set and costumes for Cunningham’s piece titled Scramble, Rei Kawakubo—an untrained fashion designer (featured as a Guest designer for H&M in fall 2008), Romeo Gigli—a designer, and Benedetta Tagliabue—an architect.
Some of Cunningham’s students went on to create their own dance companies. Karole Armitage—company member from 1976-1981--company name is Armitage Gone! Dance. Paul Taylor--company name is Paul Taylor Dance Company. Viola Farber--Viola Farber Dance Company. Robert Kovich--The Estate Project—for artists with aids. Kimberly Bartosik--Daela. Floanne Ankah--SIMPLE [production]. And finally, Jonah Bokaer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I found it very interesting when reading Merce Cunningham's biography that he has worked with Martha Graham and joined her company back in 1939, and danced with her company for six years. I find this to be interesting to me because I am researching Twyla Tharp, and she had studied under both Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham in the early 1960s. Paul Taylor, who was another student/performer of Graham and Cunningham’s who had studied with them for many years until he opened his own company in 1954. After Tharp graduated college she joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1963, which was her first professional company that she was in. This is just so remarkable to me to see who has all worked together, and see who influenced who in the contemporary dance world, in which we are learning about today in class.
ReplyDelete-Michelle A (March 3, 2010)
It's interesting how many artists were part of Martha Graham's company. I agree with you, it is amazing to see who has influenced who in the contemporary dance world. I didn't know that Tharp studied under Cunningham. Thank you for that little bit of info.
ReplyDelete