Duets |
Merce Cunningham, born
in Centralia,
Washington, received his
first formal dance and
theater training at the
Cornish School (now
Cornish College) in
Seattle. From 1939 to
1945, he was a soloist
in the company of Martha
Graham. During that
time, he began to
choreograph
independently,
presenting his first New
York solo concert with
John Cage in April 1944.
He continued to present
annual concerts, by
himself or with an ad
hoc group of dancers,
until the formation of
Merce Cunningham Dance
Company in 1953. Since
that time Cunningham has
choreographed over one
hundred and fifty works
for his
company.
His works been included
in the repertories of
numerous ballet and
modern dance companies
around the world, among
them American Ballet
Theatre, the New York
City Ballet, the Paris
Opéra, Boston
Ballet;
Charleroi/Danses,
Cullberg Ballet, Ohio
Ballet, Pacific
Northwest Ballet,
Pennsylvania Ballet,
Rambert Dance Company,
Repertory Dance Theatre,
and Théâtre
du
Silence.
Cunningham has
collaborated on two
books about his work:
Changes: Notes on
Choreography, and
The Dancer and the
Dance. |
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