Place

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Summary

Cunningham's Place (1966) had an unmistakably dramatic quality. His own role, in particular, was described as having something of the neurotic intensity of such dances as his Untitled Solo--an inte...

Cunningham's Place (1966) had an unmistakably dramatic quality. His own role, in particular, was described as having something of the neurotic intensity of such dances as his Untitled Solo--an intensity that climaxed at the end of the dance as he got into a large plastic bag and thrashed about. The dance is the first example of Gordon Mumma composing for the company, with his contribution of Mesa: "a duo for bandoneon and computer." Mumma described the performance of this complex piece as a closely interdependent collaboration with David Tudor. Beverly Emmons, the company's lighting designer during the interim between the departure of Robert Rauschenberg as resident designer and the appointment of Jasper Johns as artistic advisor, made a set out of bits of wooden crates and newspapers. She also designed mini dresses of brightly colored acetate for the women to wear over their leotards. The film, shot and broadcast live during the Festival of the Arts Today held at SUNY Buffalo, is part of a program that included Scramble (1967) and How to Pass, Kick, Fall and Run (1965), as well as Place. It is the only known motion picture to capture the entire dance with the original cast. The feature opens during the intermission of the program with an interview with Merce Cunningham, wherein he describes his conception of the dance company as a collection of individuals that each form their own images, rather than a corps de ballet that collectively form a backdrop. He attributes the intensity that the dances evoke to the interdependencies that arise between the individual dancers within the dances. The performance follows seven minutes into the video.

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