Merce Cunningham--Beach Birds 1

[ggalvanphd]

Merce Cunningham was a good friend of the composer/writer/musician John Cage. Check out Cage's 4'33" (four minutes 33 seconds - not feet and inches) transcribed for orchestra. His works for prepared piano are percussive and musical. Great stuff to make you think.

[MrRuckaRuckaFan]

I am here because of an assignment for music class, and this is fucking weird.

[seymourglass26]

Dance without music is hollow. It's only technically impressive. A shell without anything inside.

[Rainlynn42590]

wait.... umm... what?....shit...

[hazahaxa]

This is weird.

[MrsLiana16]

cara.. isso é dança??!!

[MrsLiana16]

@beloveless1 Querido acredite.... eu só estou vendo isso, pq tenho q fazer um trabalho sobre Cunningham! e sim, eu sei quem ele foi!

[makerofjam]

I really love how the foot scuffles and breathing become part of the music, unlike most ballet where you have to pretend that stuff isn't happening

[mhss0001]

LOVE IT

[operunplugged]

very formal and very good

[martinsbigmouth]

heya i done a dance based ion cunningham. i want to use your video as part of the report. ill mention you own the viedo if thats ok

[14amn14]

Cunningham wished to win stereotypes of the past, but... has created new stereotypes - not alive.

The wildlife is very harmonious in it's movement ( wind in wood or grass, flight of bird, gait of animal - elk or leopard).

And only the humain being is full of dramatic nature and sufferings, therefore his movements are deprived healthy harmony and grace. True naturalness - is graceful.

[GirlLovesNickJonas]

.... -.- i,m srry but... omg

[alefabbri]

this is great !

[NCAAHPERD]

Thanks for posting this video! We are always looking for things about dance and dance education.

[cybeavertoo]

i saw this piece years ago, i still remember it as a stunningly beautiful and intense piece, with all the clumsiness and fun that comes with real experiment and an open eye for movement and possibility. All dance today stands on the shoulders of giants like Merce.

[catcrazy710]

perfectly captures the essence of seagulls.

[boywithshades]

you gotta love merce. he always wins.

[khepros]

its part of a movement called "happenings" to understand more look at John cage and Tadeusz Kantor. this is an interdisciplinary art movement starting around the 1950s

[flobecca92]

to be honest the person that said it is just flopping around like birds clearly you dont understand the beauty of cunninghams work thts not a bad thing just dont comment on what you dont no...you always make yourself sound stupid that way... he happens to have had some of the most brilliant methods of choreography, he even would create pieces without music and just let it happen or pick a card and change one dancers direction or order of the steps to make it seem natural and spontaneous!

[Kendawgg]

If you are influenced by someone, it doesn't mean you will try to incorporate their style into your own. and Merce was known for modern dance, which was a style known to use the body as an instrument of expressing yourself rather than perfecting techniques and having it evaluated from the basis of something else

[deserthobo]

this is just my opinion

the title summarizes the whole dance, beach birds. you see how they move? how much they put into each step. they're just flopping around. beach birds.

[XxRobertPattzxX]

I need to study his work more because i am a stranger to dance....Can someone please explain the beauty and meaning of this?????

[stuckwithme247]

it's bird

[maygen2408]

it has no meaning...its meant to be dance for dance sake. Cunningham didnt like stories behind dance, he planned his dances with chance methods and wanted them to be about what the body could do and how far he could push it. style didnt mean much to him

[kelmundur]

@XxRobertPattzxX I agree with you here, I do not understand this... just my lack of wisdom I suppose. :)

[Teusqua91]

je comprend pas

[lovinfriedchicken]

But I doubt it that Cunningham was an influence to MJ. MJ has no dance moves remotely close to the choreography of Merce.

[EctInc]

I have to disagree. It's hard to find a dancer who hasn't been influenced by Merce Cunningham, whether it be their choreography or their resolve.

[mkl62]

Sorry to hear of Merce Cunningham's death. I'm sure that he was a big influence on Michael Jackson.

[grayoracle]

not sure how sarcastic/ironic this comment was meant to be, but it's still hilarious.

[mkl62]

I meant every word of it. Every top star today had an influence somewhere from someone.

[HunterMann]

Que descanzas en paz nuestro querido Merce. Gracias por todo los coreos suyos, un regalo al mundo de la danza contemporanea.... HM, EEUU y MX

[Gnarbel]

First Pina, now Merce, who's next?

A Whole era has passed away...

Thankyou for your art, mind, body and beauty, may you rest in peace Merce Cunningham.

[Alagnapassion]

I can't believe both Cunningham and Pina Bausch passed away in one month, not fair :(

[QuizmaniaDude]

R.I.P Merce

[vstasov]

Brilliant.  Thank you.

[vereda61]

Thank you Merce... R.I.P. we will miss you master.

[Jourdy289]

So sorry to hear Mr. Cunningham died, he was a brilliant choreographer

[joshuajeffery]

these are some disciplined dancers! the balance is amazing. every step is so planted and grounded.

[marcind95]

Great performance. I`ve watched full film on DVD. I like every movement here,costumes,music.Something extraordinary. Thanks for posting.

[charliejsanders]

where can you get the full DVD? I've looked everywhere.....I think...

[marcind95]

`` Merce Cunningham Collection- Vol.1 `` is available to buy in Amazon or in Lovefilm shop.

[tykemeawaywyou]

yeah! more!

[1psoas9]

more! MORE!