Preview

Merce Cunningham

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1351 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Merce Cunningham
American dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham had a significant influence on modern dance marking the beginning of the development of postmodern dance. Considered as the father of postmodern dance Merce Cunningham’ s work clearly differs in many ways from the modern choreographers that came before him. Throughout Cunningham’s work there are distinguishing key features that can be seen in their presentation and were used in his creative process. The use of design elements and collaboration with other artists became separate, individual entities. Cunningham’s interest in chance and uncertainty strongly influenced many aspects of his work from the choreographic process to the presentation of indeterminate performances. He removed the traditional barriers governing the arrangement of how dance is usually performed in space and where it is typically performed. His disinterest in communicating a narrative or storyline was evident in his works, where he often presented movement for its own sake without having to symbolize an emotion or idea. (Au, 2002, p155) His use of technology, in particular video as an additional creative technique revolutionised the way dance could be viewed. These features abandon the established traditions and innovations of the previous modern dance and ballet, which is clearly seen when his work is compared to choreographers of modern dance. (Au, 2002, p158)

Cunningham created a new relationship between dance and design elements such as music, visual design, stage design etc. Each design element was treated as an individual and independent art form when being created, however at their completion, were performed together simultaneously. This began through Cunningham’s collaboration with composer John Cage who also opposed the idea of two art forms depending on each other, rather being presented together as equals. (Au, 2002, p155) This process differs to the works of modern choreographer Martha Graham who used the design elements such as



References: • Au, Susan (2002). “Truly modern”, Ballet and modern dance. Thames and Hudson, 119-131. • Au, Susan (2002). “The metamorphosis of form”, Ballet and modern dance, Thames and Hudson, 155-158. • Sally Banes & Noel Carroll (2006). “Cunningham, Balanchine, and Postmodern Dance”, Dance Chronicle, 29 (1), 49-68. • Sayers, Leslie-Anne (1994). “Cunningham revisited”, Dance theatre journal, 11 (3) Autumn, 37-39. Bibliography: • Au, Susan (2002). “Truly modern”, Ballet and modern dance. Thames and Hudson, 119-131. • Au, Susan (2002). “The metamorphosis of form”, Ballet and modern dance, Thames and Hudson, 155-158. • Sally Banes & Noel Carroll (2006). “Cunningham, Balanchine, and Postmodern Dance”, Dance Chronicle, 29 (1), 49-68. • Sayers, Leslie-Anne (1994). “Cunningham revisited”, Dance theatre journal, 11 (3) Autumn, 37-39.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Culture and its, at times, inconceivable differences is an expression of concern for our society today. Silencing and elapsing of cultures and traditions seems to have escalated immensely. However, for the sake of our future, there is strong importance in the need of these traditions endurance. Therefore, contemporary dance has the aptitude in defying these unjust cultural judgments. We see countless contemporary choreographers, today, merging momentous techniques of contemporary with traditional aspects of cultures; for unerringly that reason.…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    All six dances in the ‘black and white’ ballets are based on sexuality. The male dancers in ‘Sarabande’ are dancing about masculinity, whereas the girls in ‘Falling angels’ are dealing with the issue of body image and pregnancy. ‘Petite mort’ is about sexual intercourse, the name ‘Petite mort’ translating into English as orgasm. The way the girls are lifted in all the dances represents at times the control men have over women like in ‘six dances’ and ‘sweet dreams’, ‘no more play’, and at other times, the relationship between male and female. Not only is the theme of sexuality a motif throughout the series of dances, it is also a defining characteristic of Jiri Kylian’s contemporary style.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The History Of Ballet

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the current century we see ballet broaden its horizon and instead of following a story line, as all pieces usually do, we can see that norm and guideline being broken. A critically acclaimed choreographer who is breaking this is New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine. He is introducing neo-classical ballet and many our outraged but others inspired. In the now we can also see many men coming back into the movement of ballet where as in the 19th century they were often turned away from the stage although it is a fact that in the very beginning and origin of the style men helped create the entire…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Firstly we come to note the similarities of movement style seen within the choreography of Graeme Murphy and Rafael Bonachela. The choreographers have both incorporated all the different elements of dance and have expressed themes through their pieces Synergy by Synergy and 2 One Another integrating…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Dance Choreography

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Although most scholars simply define it as the art of designing and arranging dance, American ballet icon George Balanchine distinguished dance choreography as “an expression of time and space, using the control of movement and gesture to communicate,” (Anderson 5). This definition puts emphasis on the rigid structure and body control required to successfully produce a piece of choreography, an idea not uncommon in the ballet community (Conoley-Paladino). Like Balanchine, modern dance icon Merce Cunningham defined dance choreography as “an art in space and time.” However, in contrast, he stated that “the object of the dancer is to obliterate” that art, drawing on the importance of…

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alvin Ailey was a famous choreographer/dancer also founder of his own dance company (AAADT). Inspired by many, (including Katherine Dunham and Horton) he began dancing at the age of 15 where he found his love for dancing. Ballet, jazz and Broadway were the three main dance styles Ailey loved. These styles can also be recognised in nearly all of his choreographies. As choreographic styles identify the constituent features, when it comes to Ailey’s work we can clearly recognise them, through the movement used.…

    • 1391 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martha Graham Essay

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Martha Graham’s technique is classically based but tweaks the usual symmetrical body alignment with sharp, precise and angular shapes. Graham’s moves communicate through the dancer, her emotion and stance on American social issues. These moves are expressed through; contraction, release, spirals, flexed hands and feet, rolls, flexion and suspension, clenched fists, fall and recover, curl and twist. Her stimulus for creating movements was breathing and the way she could emotionally express how she felt about life. The contraction starts from the pelvis and travels up the spine. This curvature in the upper body is developed from an exhalation of breath. The release brings the body back to a neutral position with an inhalation of breath. All of the dancers in her company have an extremely strong core and maintain flexibility even though strength is the dominating component. To train the…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    George Balanchine

    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages

    I chose to research on George Balanchine because he became known as the most influential ballet choreographer of the 20th century. He not only was the most influential ballet choreographer, but he worked with leading figures of American musical theatre two revues, fourteen musical comedies, four operettas, five Hollywood films, and a circus spectacle that are milestones of American popular culture. He was a very versatile choreographer and that’s what makes him very special to me. To be a versatile dance is always a plus. Also, George Balanchine was very close with Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky who had absolutely fantastic music. Thirty-nine out of over four hundred ballets, George Balanchine used Stravinsky’s music. One of my favorite ballets is The Nutcracker, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I have danced in The Nutcracker for the past 8 years and it’s the one thing I look forward to every year. Unfortunately, now that I’m graduating this year, this Christmas was the last time I will be preforming in The Nutcracker for my dance studio. Balanchine changed and shaped the style of ballet.…

    • 1504 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dance 101 Study Guide 1

    • 5005 Words
    • 19 Pages

    important foundation in understanding the broader scope of how dance can be seen as a…

    • 5005 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With reference to at least two professional works, discuss the use of physical setting in communicating the themes of a dance. (20 marks)…

    • 945 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    4. Kealiinohomoku. “An Anthropologist Looks at Ballet as a Form of Ethnic Dance” Pg 533…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Ballerina Research Paper

    • 2661 Words
    • 11 Pages

    ballet Dancers and ballerinas.” SciencDirect. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 1.1 (2009): 2218-2221. Web. 12 Aug 2015.…

    • 2661 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first section of this paper sets out to investigate the movement shifting as the change of the way of body move. This section will determine the differences of technique and the essential of movement in ballet and contemporary dance as the symbol of body shifting by the theory of anthropology, in particular, through an in-depth study of the sense of touch, kinaesthesia and the essential of movement in ballet and contemporary dance to further explain the…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Cornett, C. (2011). Integrating dance and creative movement. In Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts (4th ed.), pp.255-281. Allyn & Bacon, Boston, USA…

    • 1960 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dancers in society continue to blossom in today’s society with new talent breaching the world of dance every day. People’s abilities become discovered and pass on their passion amongst those who are willing to learn. A person who has gone by this statement is Bill T. Jones, an artistic director that shares a diverse coverage in being a choreographer, dancer, theatre director and writer. The American prodigy was born in the state of Bunnell, Florida. Though his place of home had been moved to the North to Wayland, New York, as a part of the Great Migration in the first half of the twentieth century. It was from this point on that he was offered the chance and fame to be who he is today by studying in the ‘Big Apple’ and attending Wayland High School. In growing and progressing his academic studies he had moved on to the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he had begun his dance training, studying in the areas of classical ballet and modern dance.…

    • 1330 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays