Monday, August 15, 2005
New York
This is from a friend of mine who just came back from the summer in NYC, where she was doing a course in Yiddish language at NYU (I think):
"Ocean (Cunningham and Cage's last piece in 1991 before John Cage died) was being performed by the Cunningham dance co. in NYC. The Cunningham co. performs in NYC maybe twice a year and the rest of the time they're on int'l tour - that's how good they are! So, i ignored the insane price and bought the cheapest ticket i could find. And of course, since you weren't around, i went myself.
It was __________________. (no words, too stupendous)
The dancers danced in this circle and the audience sat around it, and then the orchestra was around the audience (exactly the stage formation that Cage and Cunningham wanted for the dance piece.) There were two clocks, ticking down from 90 minutes, on two 'sides' of the circle. That really changed the perception of time. And there was no narrative, set-design, just pure perfect dancers' bodies moving for 90 minutes and for some reason it wasn't boring. I could go into all the other things i read into the dance, but then you'd be reading a novel and not an email.
Anyway, after the 90 mins everyone clapped, the performers bowed, and then this man sitting near the stage door on the back side of the circle got up and bowed: Merce Cunningham himself.
Now thank goodness my mother taught me how to be a little adventurous and pry open back doors. I ran downstairs to the door nearest his seat as the rest of the audience poured out of the auditorium. I bolted and lied past agressive ushers who wanted me out, not in the auditorium. I found Merce Cunning, i figured old friends and performers. Then, the ladies stepped aside to leave and there was the genius himself in front of me: old, wrinkly, in a wheelchair. As they were about to wheel him out i stuck out my hand, blabbered some nonsense "it's been my dream to meet you" or some other stupid thing. He shook my hand, smiled, and then the ushers pushed me out.
I shook hands with Merce Cunningham!!!! A friend of mine said that i am a fool to think that that was of any importance. But, i disagree entirely. I have no interest in just a meaningless handshake from famous or powerful pple, but to make physical contact and see the eyes of a genius is something completely different.
I was so elated that i walked all the way home, all 55 blocks down Broadway - through times square - and at 10pm."
Ladies and gentlemen of the blogging universe, I love New York. Also, I need to tour internationally.
"Ocean (Cunningham and Cage's last piece in 1991 before John Cage died) was being performed by the Cunningham dance co. in NYC. The Cunningham co. performs in NYC maybe twice a year and the rest of the time they're on int'l tour - that's how good they are! So, i ignored the insane price and bought the cheapest ticket i could find. And of course, since you weren't around, i went myself.
It was __________________. (no words, too stupendous)
The dancers danced in this circle and the audience sat around it, and then the orchestra was around the audience (exactly the stage formation that Cage and Cunningham wanted for the dance piece.) There were two clocks, ticking down from 90 minutes, on two 'sides' of the circle. That really changed the perception of time. And there was no narrative, set-design, just pure perfect dancers' bodies moving for 90 minutes and for some reason it wasn't boring. I could go into all the other things i read into the dance, but then you'd be reading a novel and not an email.
Anyway, after the 90 mins everyone clapped, the performers bowed, and then this man sitting near the stage door on the back side of the circle got up and bowed: Merce Cunningham himself.
Now thank goodness my mother taught me how to be a little adventurous and pry open back doors. I ran downstairs to the door nearest his seat as the rest of the audience poured out of the auditorium. I bolted and lied past agressive ushers who wanted me out, not in the auditorium. I found Merce Cunning, i figured old friends and performers. Then, the ladies stepped aside to leave and there was the genius himself in front of me: old, wrinkly, in a wheelchair. As they were about to wheel him out i stuck out my hand, blabbered some nonsense "it's been my dream to meet you" or some other stupid thing. He shook my hand, smiled, and then the ushers pushed me out.
I shook hands with Merce Cunningham!!!! A friend of mine said that i am a fool to think that that was of any importance. But, i disagree entirely. I have no interest in just a meaningless handshake from famous or powerful pple, but to make physical contact and see the eyes of a genius is something completely different.
I was so elated that i walked all the way home, all 55 blocks down Broadway - through times square - and at 10pm."
Ladies and gentlemen of the blogging universe, I love New York. Also, I need to tour internationally.
// posted by MSR @ 7:45 AM 
