Cunningham incorporated into his choreography not only the appreciation of the human body, but the appreciation of life. The idea of "chance" was that it does not matter how a certain moment prepared and came to be that moment, but what matters is the moment itself and the beauty within it.
Merce cunningham is an amazing choreographer. He changed a lot about modern dance. He rebelled agnaist martha graham who's dance was all about meaning and the pain. But Merce was all about the human body, the appreciation for the human body which is simply amazing. I love his technique. Its a bloody hard technique to study.
Cunningham's work can seem strange no doubt. He very much believed in creating dance for dance's sake. There is rarely a story line, but it is more an appreciation of the human body and an experiment in the shapes and movement the body could make. There is generally no emotional climax in his choreography. You must appreciate the technique and the beauty of the human body to fully appreciate Cunningham.
In fact, one could say that "ballet" is "loose Cunningham". What's the point? You could also say that ballet is full of stiff ideas, and is in fact a frozen cultural form. I could say that I am imagining you stiffening like a meringue as you read this! Metaphor, dear, not "metaform".
The virtuosity of the dancing is breathtaking. This is incredible work...invigorating, courageous, inspiring, life-affirming. Thanks so much for posting it!
hi hes a complex guy- his coreography is based on the theory of chance - the idea that everyday things happen that we never expected so why should dance be any different? he expressed this idea through the relationship between dance and music or rather the non relationship. the pianist and composer would make a piece of music that the dancers often did not hear until the performance and he would coreograph counts of movement and sequences that they had to execute on stage.
so in the end often the counts and sequencing the dancers were dancing had little relatonship to the music the composer and pianist had created. life imitates art is the idea. somtimes the dancers would have counts of improvisation so each performance turned out different form the previous one. its a nice idea but in my opinion cunningham ballets are either really nice or plain terrible to watch, everything happens by chance- controlled chaos -hope i helped!
Yea, one of my modern teachers recommended I look into Cunningham because of my proficient ballet technique. And I see what he means ... but from what I've seen so far, this just looks like stiff ballet =/
with Merce I watch in terms of structure rather than with how the choreography itself looks like aesthetically, to me that seems much more interesting....
Cunningham incorporated into his choreography not only the appreciation of the human body, but the appreciation of life. The idea of "chance" was that it does not matter how a certain moment prepared and came to be that moment, but what matters is the moment itself and the beauty within it.
HannahIsKindaCool 8 months ago
great
mKL01Q0O 1 year ago
Coast Zone , 1983, film directed by Charles Atlas, music by Larry Austin ("Beachcombers")
CORC1300 1 year ago
Merce cunningham is an amazing choreographer. He changed a lot about modern dance. He rebelled agnaist martha graham who's dance was all about meaning and the pain. But Merce was all about the human body, the appreciation for the human body which is simply amazing. I love his technique. Its a bloody hard technique to study.
FreedomINCchronicles 1 year ago 7
The balletic elements are interesting. Attractive, "staccatto flow".
crescentsi 1 year ago
Cunningham is still controversial, even in the youtube era!
nothingUneed2no 1 year ago
I don't know what i'm suppose to get from this. I'm not bashing but i just feel nothing from watching this
rolando4812 2 years ago 2
Cunningham's work can seem strange no doubt. He very much believed in creating dance for dance's sake. There is rarely a story line, but it is more an appreciation of the human body and an experiment in the shapes and movement the body could make. There is generally no emotional climax in his choreography. You must appreciate the technique and the beauty of the human body to fully appreciate Cunningham.
lulabell34 2 years ago 3
Stiff ballet... very well said ! Sorry dear, I really do not know what to say more..... !
Virginielie 2 years ago
In fact, one could say that "ballet" is "loose Cunningham". What's the point? You could also say that ballet is full of stiff ideas, and is in fact a frozen cultural form. I could say that I am imagining you stiffening like a meringue as you read this! Metaphor, dear, not "metaform".
tinypapercube 2 years ago
Frozen cultural form ... What not ! At least ....this sounds creatif !
Virginielie 2 years ago
The virtuosity of the dancing is breathtaking. This is incredible work...invigorating, courageous, inspiring, life-affirming. Thanks so much for posting it!
powerofalto 2 years ago 2
CUNNINGHAM!!!
OH I remember my dance professor at UNLV introduced us to some warm-ups and Ive been in love ever since.... ;)
Uniquestylez01 2 years ago
I need to study his work more because i am a stranger to dance....Can someone please explain the beauty and meaning of this?????
XxRobertPattzxX 2 years ago
hi hes a complex guy- his coreography is based on the theory of chance - the idea that everyday things happen that we never expected so why should dance be any different? he expressed this idea through the relationship between dance and music or rather the non relationship. the pianist and composer would make a piece of music that the dancers often did not hear until the performance and he would coreograph counts of movement and sequences that they had to execute on stage.
RussiangirlNY 2 years ago
so in the end often the counts and sequencing the dancers were dancing had little relatonship to the music the composer and pianist had created. life imitates art is the idea. somtimes the dancers would have counts of improvisation so each performance turned out different form the previous one. its a nice idea but in my opinion cunningham ballets are either really nice or plain terrible to watch, everything happens by chance- controlled chaos -hope i helped!
RussiangirlNY 2 years ago
@XxRobertPattzxX There is none. stop watching this boring shit
danfrog234 1 year ago
Yea, one of my modern teachers recommended I look into Cunningham because of my proficient ballet technique. And I see what he means ... but from what I've seen so far, this just looks like stiff ballet =/
margarinefly55 2 years ago
What do you mean by real? Are you describing a state that is 'post language'?
kingofstleonards 2 years ago
this is like some alien race doing dance ,,,funny
fogouman 2 years ago
LOL...
Thanks!
AnneSavina71 2 years ago
with Merce I watch in terms of structure rather than with how the choreography itself looks like aesthetically, to me that seems much more interesting....
funkydancer120781 2 years ago
Belli costumi, musica, coreografia, regia
fontema 3 years ago
i very much like the music and the costumes too.
apanhadordearrepios 2 years ago
they're clearly reat dancers but i really son't like the choreography.. =/
i have to go see this on wednesday
[i'm studying it]
blondejokes92 3 years ago