Choreography / 1948

Monkey Dances, [The]

“Monkey Dances” was an arrangement of the short dances Cunningham originally made for “The Ruse of Medusa,” in which he appeared in the role of Jonas, a mechanical monkey. “Monkey Dances” (sometimes called “The Monkey Dances”) was a solo in seven parts: “Quadrille,” “Valse,” “Pas vite,” “Mazurka,” “Un peu vif,” “Polka,” and “Quadrille.” Cunningham wore a costume designed by Mary Outten with a tail by Richard Lippold and a hat he designed himself.

Details

Premiere Date

Aug 20, 1948

Premiere Venue

Black Mountain College

Premiere Location

Black Mountain, NC

Music

Erik Satie, Le Piège de Méduse

Costumes

Merce Cunningham

Mary Outten

Richard Lippold

Duration

Length unknown

Original Cast

Merce Cunningham

Other Choreography

Title
Duration
Year
Collaborator(s)
Spontaneous Earth
Duration: 3 minutes (est.)
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage
Unavailable Memory Of, The
Duration: 2-4 minutes (est.)
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage
Tossed As It Is Untroubled
Duration: 3 minutes (est.)
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage
Root of an Unfocus
Duration: 5 minues (est.)
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage
Triple-Paced
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage
Four Walls
Duration: 60 minutes
Year: 1944
Collab.: Cage, Lauterer
Idyllic Song
Duration: 6 minutes
Year: 1944
Collab.: Satie
Experiences
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1945
Collab.: Gearhart, Cage