Critical Essay On Merce Cunningham- Points In Spac

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Critical Essay Merce Cunningham: Points in Space Merce Cunningham has been recognised as the most important choreographer of the twenty-first century. He is best known for his revolutionary methods and ideas which ultimately led to the modernising of modern dance. Cunningham trained in the world of Martha Graham’s choreography, which he soon rejected after spreading his wings and heading out alone to produce his own choreography. The main aspect of Cunningham’s choreography we all know and enjoy is his ability to create something new, refreshing and in some cases extremely obscure. Points in Space is one of Cunningham’s many pieces of choreography that has been noticed for its abstract and modernised choreography. Jack Anderson of the New York Times reviewed one of the first performances of Cunningham’s Points in space in 1987 and referred to it as “a fine example of the works for large ensembles that Mr. Cunningham has created in recent seasons”. The choreography has been described as very busy, with lots of comings and goings and although this was the intention; at all times the dancers maintained a “basic serenity, so they never appeared harassed or panic stricken” as Anderson explains (Anderson, 1987). Cunningham’s ideas and styles are the main topic of conversation when it comes to discussing his work. His style is very unique and often uses the body in many abstract ways, which enables the movement to be articulated through the body in a much clearer way. Cunningham arranges the body to emphasise how it moves, the dances emphasise the body’s jointed-ness, combining and recombining body parts in a variety of ways as Foster (1986 p.32) has suggested. Alongside Cunningham’s movement ideas, his stage arrangements and entrances and exits to the space are often something that is noticed. In particular during his 1987 Points in Space he arranges his dancers
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