Choreography / 1949

Two Step

“Two Step” was performed to an instrumental version of Erik Satie’s music-hall song “La Diva de ‘L’Empire.’” When asked if any of the material came from Mrs. Barrett, his boyhood teacher, Cunningham said that “the middle part was a kind of soft-shoe, only more elaborate, turning around, and I put a break at the end of the phrase that probably came from her – I just made it bigger.” Carolyn Brown described the solo as a “tour de force of mercurial exuberance.”

Details

Premiere Date

Dec 18, 1949

Premiere Venue

City Center Theater

Premiere Location

New York, NY

Music

Erik Satie, La Diva de l’Empire, intermezzo américain

Costumes

Merce Cunningham

Duration

2 minutes, 30 seconds (est.)

Original Cast

Merce Cunningham

Other Choreography

Title
Duration
Year
Collaborator(s)
Experiences
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1945
Collab.: Gearhart, Cage
Mysterious Adventure
Duration: 8 minutes (est.)
Year: 1945
Collab.: Cage, Hare
Soliloquy
Duration: 3 minutes (est.)
Year: 1945
Collab.: Cage
Princess Zondilda and Her Entourage, The
Duration: 10 minutes (est.)
Year: 1946
Collab.: Haieff
Fast Blues
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1946
Collab.: Dodds
Invocation to Vahakn
Duration: 11 minutes (est.)
Year: 1946
Collab.: Hovhaness
Encounter, The
Duration: Length unknown
Year: 1946
Collab.: Cage
Seasons, The
Duration: 15-17 (est.)
Year: 1947
Collab.: Cage, Noguchi