Merce Cunningham, whose revolutionary dances have been sending shock waves through the art world for almost thirty years, will once again startle audiences when the Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents three new works during its two week season at City Center, March 17-29.
The Company’s opening night will be celebrated with a special Gala Benefit that will be highlighted by the premiere of a new work by Mr. Cunningham (music and décor to be announced) and performances of “Fractions,” “Roadrunners,” and “Tango,” a solo for Mr. Cunningham. Julie Harris, Louis Nevelson, and Jasper Johns are honorary chairpersons of the evening.
The season will also include the New York premiere of “Fielding Sixes,” which received rave reviews when it was first performed during the Company’s engagement at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London last June. “Fielding Sixes” will be first shown on March 19. The music is by John Cage and design by Monika Fullemann.
On March 24 the Company will present the staging of a new work which Mr. Cunningham created first for video as part of his most recent collaborative project with film-maker Charles Atlas this past winter. Mr. Cunningham and Mr. atlas had also collaborated on “Fractions,” and “Locale.” The music for the new work will be by David Tudor.
In addition to the premieres, the Company’s City Center season will include performances of Cunningham classics such as “Fractions,” “Roadrunners,” “Locale,” “Inlets,” “Exchange,” “Duets,” “Squaregame,” “Torse,” “Signals,” and “Tango.”