Over seven decades, Merce Cunningham reshaped dance into a new kind of art form, deeply influencing visual art, film, and music along the way. Through an embrace of technology, a fascination with the creative potentials of chance, and a dedication to cross-disciplinary explorations with artists including John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, Marcel Duchamp, and others, he became the 20th century's most influential choreographer. In conjunction with the exhibition Merce Cunningham: Common Time, we look

Trisha Brown Dance Company performing Merce Cunningham's "Travelogue." On tour through 2026! . . . . . . Travelogue (1977) Choreography: Merce Cunningham Music: John Cage, Telephones and Birds Original design and costumes: Robert Rauschenberg Realization of Telephones and Birds for mobile devices: Adam Tendler Scenic Reconstruction: UNCSA School of Design & Production and Rose Brand Costume Reconstruction: Earlene Munnerlyn and Marisa McCullough Lighting Reconstruction: Davison Scandrett and Joe

Choreographer Merce Cunningham’s “Scenario” premiered at the BAM on October 14th, 1997 as a collaboration with Rei Kawakubo. Kawakubo explained, “When the natural movements of dance are repelled and refuted, you get new forms.” See excerpts of “Scenario” in “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between,” on view through September 4th. http://met.org/2sk8RAl | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York