Merce Cunningham Dance Company at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2009

Merce Cunningham Dance Company performed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2009.

One of the modern dance field's greatest innovators, Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) formed his company in 1953, and was filmed during its first Pillow appearance just two years later when the program included Banjo. The company returned to the Pillow the following season with the premiere of Nocturnes, featuring a score by Erik Satie and designs by Robert Rauschenberg (who was also the company's stage manager at that time). Cunningham and his dancers participated in many subsequent Pillow seasons, culminating in 2009 when he was the recipient of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. Among the former Cunningham dancers now leading their own companies are Jonah Bokaer and Karole Armitage. The last time Cunningham saw his company dance was the performance seen here, streamed to his laptop just a few days before his death on the same day the company closed its final Pillow engagement.

Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, home to America's longest-running dance festival, and recipient of the prestigious National Medal of Arts. To learn more about the Pillow: http://www.jacobspillow.org/

Explore more dance videos online at Jacob's Pillow Dance Interactive: http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow....

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[fgtilley]

Max or is it Noel?

I run marathons while running backwards; it's grueling but a fun way to exercise. I suppose doing a complete dance set would begin to break a sweat. Where are you from?

[max02noel]

What kind of exercise classes do you take? I can almost guarantee that were you to attempt to make it through this grueling 17 minute dance, your heart would explode.

[fgtilley]

looks like a beginner's exercise class

[DoctorPatient]

of course it's a treat and a privilege to see any of this exquisite Merce Company material, but this thirty six seconds is such a tease !!