MERCE CUNNINGHAM CENTENNIAL

In 2019, Scott was selected to perform the role of Merce Cunningham at Australia’s only bespoke Event held at the National Gallery of Australia as part of the Merce Cunningham Centennial.

Merce Cunningham, an American-born 20th Century pioneer of modern dance with a career spanning seven decades, is considered one of the most important choreographers of our time, renowned for constant innovation in visual and performing arts. His creative collaborations yielded an unparalleled body of work and to celebrate his 100th birthday, a set of bespoke performances, residences, exhibitions, seminars, workshops and programs were organised around the world.

The National Gallery of Australia, with support from the Embassy of the United States of America, hosted a contemporary dance residency in association with their exhibition ‘American Masters 1940–1980’. Former Merce Cunningham Company dancer and stager Jamie Scott worked with three Australian dancers to remount excerpts from several Merce Cunningham dances including Story (1963), Changing Steps (1973), Landrover (1972), TV Rerun (1972), Canfield (1969), Field Dances (1963) and Inlets (1977) set under Sol LeWitt’s Wall drawing No. 380 a-d (1982).

More information can be found here: https://www.mercecunningham.org/activities/cunningham-centennial-2019/

CRITICAL STATEMENT

Michelle Potter AM - independent dance writer, historian and curator based in Canberra - wrote the following statement in her critical review:

“The three dancers performed beautifully. It was refreshing to see the clarity of movement that emerges from Cunningham technique — the juxtaposition of curves and straight lines, the tilt of bodies, a delicious jump with the leg in a low arabesque, the unique partnering where body builds on body, tiny detailed movements of the shoulders or hands or feet, the changing balance of the body, and so on. Aspects of Cunningham technique sometimes look simple, deceptively so, but extraordinary control and strength are needed.”