Choreography / 1956

Galaxy

“Galaxy” was a quartet of simultaneous solos danced by Carolyn Brown, Remy Charlip, Viola Farber, and Marianne Preger. The program note read: “The complexity of this dance and its music is in imitation of complex situations in nature, where, for instance, air, earth, fire and water act at one and the same time.” In describing his choreographic process, Cunningham said that he tried to keep each solo “separate spacewise,” and to make each one as different as possible. “It wasn’t made with chance procedures,” he continued, “it was made on the four dancers. I just made a dance for each one in that length of time, each one had not only different movements but different structure. They were made so that they could be done together or separately.” The costumes, designed by Charlip, were notable for their exuberant fantasy: Brown’s was decorated with feathers, Farber’s with many-colored buttons sewn to the leotard, Preger’s had a gold satin cape with lamé lining, and Charlip’s incorporated Indian embroidery with small pieces of mirror.

Details

Premiere Date

May 18, 1956

Premiere Venue

University of Notre Dame

Premiere Location

South Bend, IN

Music

Earle Brown, Four Systems

Costumes

Remy Charlip

Duration

8 minutes (est.)

Original Cast

Carolyn Brown

Remy Charlip

Viola Farber

Marianne Preger-Simon

Other Choreography

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Duration
Year
Collaborator(s)
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Duration: Length unknown
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Collab.:
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Collab.: Jennerjahn
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Year: 1952
Collab.: Stravinsky, Bay
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Duration: Length unknown
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Collab.: Schaeffer
Brigadoon
Duration: Length unknown
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Collab.:
Theater Piece No. 1
Duration: 45 minutes (est.)
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Collab.:
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Duration: 22 - 24 minutes (est.)
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Duration: 15 minutes (est.)
Year: 1953
Collab.: Cage