Choreography / 1971

Loops

“Loops” was described by Cunningham as “an Event for soloist.” It consisted of multiple short sections with names such as “Shuffle,” “Slide,” “Hip,” “Extend,” and “Hands.” A different selection and sequence of sections could be done for each performance. The solo was first performed at the Museum of Modern Art, in front of Jasper Johns’ painting “Map (Based on Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Air Ocean World).” Gordon Mumma’s music, “Loops: Biophysical and Ambient Signals from FM Telemetry,” involved wiring Cunningham so that his breathing and heartbeat were audible in performance. The dance was subsequently performed at the Whitney Museum under the title “Loops and Additions,” on repertory programs in combination with “Changing Steps” (“Changing Steps/Loops” and “Changing Steps et cetera”), and in Event performances.

Details

Premiere Date

Dec 03, 1971

Premiere Venue

Museum of Modern Art

Premiere Location

New York, NY

Music

Gordon Mumma, Loops: Biophysical and Ambient Signals from FM Telemetry

Set

Charles Atlas

Lighting

Richard Nelson

Duration

Variable

Original Cast

Merce Cunningham

Other Choreography

Title
Duration
Year
Collaborator(s)
Scramble
Duration: Variable 20 - 28 minutes
Year: 1967
Collab.: Ichiyanagi, Stella
RainForest
Duration: 20 minutes
Year: 1968
Collab.: Tudor, Warhol, Johns, Emmons
Walkaround Time
Duration: 50 minutes
Year: 1968
Collab.: Behrman, Johns, Duchamp
Assemblage
Duration: 59 minutes
Year: 1968
Collab.: Cage, Tudor, Mumma
Canfield
Duration: Variable 20 - 75 minutes
Year: 1969
Collab.: Oliveros, Morris, Johns, Nelson
Tread
Duration: 21 minutes
Year: 1970
Collab.: Wolff, Nauman, Nelson
Second Hand
Duration: 30 minutes
Year: 1970
Collab.: Cage, Johns, Nelson
Signals
Duration: 20 minutes
Year: 1970
Collab.: Cage, Tudor, Mumma