Nearly Ninety
This afternoon, I went to see a matinee performance of Nearly Ninety, a new work by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company to celebrate Merce’s 90th birthday. Sonic Youth and John Paul Jones wrote and performed the music in collaboration for the event. They performed it in a giant, futuristic soundship treehouse. I can’t really describe it any better than that, and I don’t think I should try. The music was dissonant, oddly joyful despite being dark, and very lovely.
But I went for the dancing. I would have gone for the dancing even if there had been no music at all.
I can’t even pretend to have an extensive knowledge of dance, but I know just enough to know who inspires me. And I am inspired by Merce Cunningham. Inspired by his dedication to exploration of movement, inspired by the strength and grace he requires of his dancers, and inspired by his lifetime of collaboration (and partnership) with John Cage. I’ve seen his work on video and read quite about about him (I actually completed an undergrad paper on his work a long time ago). But I’ve never seen any of his choreography performed live prior to this. And I feel blessed – finally – to have seen his work. It was moving and challenging and strange and strong and warm and angular and engaging.
It was also the most relaxing artistic experience I’ve had in a very long time. Lacking narrative, independent of words and story, the interplay between movement and music purely accidental (serendipity!): such welcome change. I’ve missed relaxing and enjoying. I’ve traded those wholesale for criticism and assessment, in so many ways.
How marvelous to be returned, again, to wonder-eyed spectator.
Thank you, Merce.
