Q&A with MCDC

Why did the Company decide to close?
Because it was felt that the company could not continue without Merce. Although there is a large repertory of dances that could be revived, and the company could go on performing these for a while, finally a dance company needs new work, and there is no choreographer who could make new work for MCDC  that would be of the same quality as Merce’s own choreography. Also it was felt that MCDC should consist of dancers who were trained by Merce and worked with him, and once that was no longer the case the company should come to an end.

David Vaughan
Archivist
Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Do you prefer pure dance form or a narrative in  your choreography?
Pure choreography. I find it leaves you with more opportunities to make different choices about how to approach the same movements differently on any given day.

If the movement is independent of the music, then how do you set a pace and synchronize your movements?
We rely on muscle memory and on each other to keep a consistent tempo. And we rely on the clock to gauge how fast or slow we are by the end of a piece.

How do you like dancing barefoot?
I’ve grown so accustomed to it that I can’t even wear ballet shoes anymore without feeling totally disconnected from the floor.

Any blisters?
Lots of splits!

What was Merce like as a teacher?
Merce was always very present as a teacher. You could sense he had a great interest in watching how different individuals would tackle the impossible tasks he would throw at us in class. He was impatient with questions–rather that clarify every detail he just wanted us to, “Just do something.” I’ve heard that Merce once said he didn’t like teaching class. Whether or not that’s true, I think he really enjoyed watching people learn.

What was your first reaction when you heard that Merce passed away?
There was an amazing storm the night before and I couldn’t help thinking that Merce probably wouldn’t have gone any other way.

What do you do when you wake up tired and uninspired?
I listen to music that makes me want to wiggle around and smile. It reconnects me to the lighter side of dance and all of a sudden everything gets easier.

Jamie Scott
Dancer
Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Quotes from the UMS Post-It Wall:

-“Physical equivalent of a Jackson Pollock.”

-“Loved the music.”

-“Tonight’s sounds expressed soul!”

-“Merce, Merci, Mercy, Magnificent!”

-“Music = Annoying”

-“His legacy is a legacy!”

-“Movement for movement’s sake.”

-“A guided escape. Thanks!”

-“A once in a lifetime experience.”

-F@*%ing Brilliant.

-“No Cause, No Effect. Dance, Dance.”

-“Dizzy”

-“A wonder of the life body.”

-“Étrange, mais magnifique! <3”

-“Like a vacation on another planet.”

Laurie Anderson evoked a world between the everyday and one filled with elves, rotting forests, ghost ships, music, and poetry in her piece Delusion. Did her choice to create a dream-like world aid in the contemplation of longing, memory, and identity? Or, did you find the dream-like quality distracting? Or, did you think it not dream-like at all?

Handel’s Messiah is a longstanding tradition at UMS. With countless performances behind us, I want to know how does Messiah resonate with you? Does Messiah help you get into the holiday spirit? I know it does for me as attending the performance has become a personal tradition of my own. Do you have any traditions surrounding the performance? I’d love to hear them.