Choreography / 1959

Gambit for Dancers and Orchestra

“Gambit for Dancers and Orchestra” was one of two new dances presented at the University of Illinois, where Cunningham spent four months as the first dancer-in-residence. The music was a commissioned score by Ben Johnston, a faculty composer. The dance, originally titled “Two for One,” was in six parts: prelude, interlude, postlude, prelude, interlude and postlude. It was performed on two consecutive nights, with the orchestra on stage. It was never done again.

Details

Premiere Date

Mar 14, 1959

Premiere Venue

University of Illinois

Premiere Location

Urbana, IL

Music

Ben Johnston, Gambit

Set

Robert Rauschenberg

Costumes

Robert Rauschenberg

Duration

17 minutes (est.)

Original Cast

Carolyn Brown

Remy Charlip

Merce Cunningham

Judith Dunn

Viola Farber

Marilyn Wood

Other Choreography

Title
Duration
Year
Collaborator(s)
Minutiae
Duration: 16 minutes
Year: 1954
Collab.: Cage, Rauschenberg, Charlip
Springweather and People
Duration: 29 minutes
Year: 1955
Collab.: Brown, Rauschenberg, Charlip
Suite for Five
Duration: 23 minutes
Year: 1956
Collab.: Cage, Rauschenberg
Lavish Escapade
Duration: 10 minutes (est.)
Year: 1956
Collab.: Wolff
Galaxy
Duration: 8 minutes (est.)
Year: 1956
Collab.: Brown, Charlip
Nocturnes
Duration: 15 - 20 minutes (est.)
Year: 1956
Collab.: Satie, Rauschenberg
Labyrinthian Dances
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1957
Collab.: Hauer, Rauschenberg
Changeling
Duration: 6 minutes, 30 seconds
Year: 1957
Collab.: Wolff, Rauschenberg