Comparison of work (Merce Cunningham)

One on Cunningham’s first created pieces was called “Totem Ancestor” where it was originally created as an addition to a joint concert including him and two fellow members of the Graham Company. This brief solo by Cunningham was performed on a diagonal line, as he traveled the stage leaping from kneeling and crouched positions. John Cage wrote the music for the dance after it was complete. This dance also included a black leotard with gray stripes on. Underneath is a photo of Merce Cunningham Performing this piece. Picture from https://dancecapsules.mercecunningham.org/overview.cfm?capid=46110

Later on in his career, in 1999, he created a piece of work called BIPED where instead of looking at tradition dance, or even separating the music and dance, it was an exploration of the possibilities of animation technology of motion capture. This is where they choreographed 70 phrases to be transformed into digital images, where the images and patterns where projected in the front of the stage while live performers where behind. Cunningham also used computer software to develop choreography.

Over the years, his development has been more experimental with his dance. At first his dances included, traversing across the stage. Then by having his dance and music being created separately and mixed for the creation of chance dance, to the use of computers to create choreography and patterns to us within a live performance.