Merce Cunningham as a Pioneer of Modern Dance

Merce Cunningham as a Pioneer of Modern Dance

In the age of conformity, Merce Cunningham has resisted the temptation to remain aligned with his peers. Cunningham has pioneered a new school of thought in dance, and has set the standard for future pioneers. He is passionate about what he does and it has been evident in his works as a dancer and a choreographer.

Cunningham was born on April 16, 1919, in Centralia, Washington. At the age of twelve, Cunningham became interested in dance and started informal instruction. Upon graduation from high school, Cunningham began his formal dance instruction at the Cornish School of Fine and Applied Arts. After two years at the Cornish School, he studied at Mills College and at Bennington College; this is where he was invited to join Martha Graham?s dance company in 1939. Graham was an incredible dancer who also choreographed during her career. While dancing for Graham, Cunningham began to make a name for himself in the dancing community. It was with Graham?s encouragement that Cunningham started to choreograph on his own. His decision to start choreographing can be looked at as one of the most important decisions in the history of dance.

With the encouragement of John Cage, a composer, Cunningham left Martha Graham?s Dance Company in 1945 to pursue a fulltime partnership with Cage. The two men would go on to have a very storied career. On the night of April 6, 1944, at the Humphrey Weidman Studio, Cunningham and Cage performed their first solo recital. In attendance that night was acclaimed dance critic, Edwin Denby. ?When he was actively reviewing, Edwin Denby was this country?s most respected critic of the dance?(Klosty 215). Cunningham?s first performance captured Denby from the very beginning with Cunningham?s amazing steps, runs, and knee bends and he described them as ?brilliant in lightness and speed.? Denby was also impressed by Cunningham?s gifts as a lyric dancer. Denby?s first review of Cunningham helped launch his career forward. Denby ended his review of Cunningham?s first solo performance by saying ?I have never seen a first solo recital that combined such taste, such technical finish, such originality of dance material, and so sure a manner of presentation.?

Before the 1940?s, expressionist was the leading form of modern dance. Cunningham on the other hand, was opposed to this ...

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...Merce Cunningham continues to be on the pioneering edge of dance. His innovative techniques continue to astound audiences around the world with his creativity and expertise. In every time period throughout history, there has always been a select few who have changed the times. Whether it is Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, or Merce Cunningham, society will always be indebted to these individuals for the contributions they have made in various aspects our lives.

Bibliography:

Anderson, Jack. ?Dance Review: Into Terra Incognita With Merce Cunningham.? New York Times 26 July 1999: E5.

?Cunningham, Merce.? Encarta Encyclopedia. 1998 ed.

?Cunningham, Merce.? Encyclopedia Britannica Online. [Accessed 31 August 1999].

?Dance.? Encyclopedia Britannica Online. [Accessed 31 August 1999].

Denby, Edwin. ?Review.? Merce Cunningham. Ed. James Klosty. New York City, NY: Saturday Review Press, 1976. 213.

Klosty, James. Introduction. Merce Cunningham. By Klosty. New York City, NY: Saturday Review Press, 1975. 11-17.

?Merce: biography.? Cunningham Dance Foundation. Online. Internet. 31 Aug. 1999. Available WWW:http://www.merce.org/merce_bio.html.