Merce Cunningham, Acclaimed Choreographer, Dies at 90

Much has been, and will be, written on Merce’s genius as an artist and choreographer. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge just what an incredible human being he was on a personal level.

I had the honor of working with Merce from 2001 until 2008, both as the lighting designer for many of his works, and as the director of production for his dance company. In that time, Merce taught me how to see again - he had an uncanny ability of noticing things the rest of us didn’t. The movement of animals and children; the shifting light in the room as the sun tracked across the sky. For a time, he would videotape everything happening in front of him - he was fascinated by the world and it’s inhabitants.

Although I’d already been working in technical theatre for 20 years, I learned new things from him all the time, simply from his having worked in theatres for 60+ years (and possesing that clever mind). Merce frequently came up with elegant, simple solutions to technical challenges we faced - for example, the method by which the dancers magically appear and disappear at the back of the stage during BIPED.

Moreover, Merce was an inspiration simply on a human level. He would always greet you with, “How are YOU?”, genuinely wanting to know. He would much rather hear about the world out there, what’s happening right now, than talk about himself or his own work. What a refreshing change from so many egocentric artists.
Merce had such integrity when it came to the artists he chose to work with - no matter how outlandish the concept a given composer or scenographer came up with, Merce always found a way to accomodate their requests.

Merce had a child-like wonder about the world that I continue to admire and strive to emulate.

I think we can all take comfort in the fact that Merce died at home, at peace and without pain, on his terms, having completed what he wanted to accomplish.

Thank you for being who you were, Merce - you inspired so many of us in unforgettable ways.