Judson Dance Theater

Judson Dance Theater was a collective of dancers, composers, and visual artists who performed at the Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, Manhattan New York City between 1962 and 1964. The artists involved were avant garde experimentalists who rejected the confines of Modern dance practice and theory, inventing as they did the precepts of Postmodern dance.[1]

Beginnings

Judson Dance Theater grew out of a composition class held at Merce Cunningham's studio, taught by Robert Dunn, a musician who had studied experimental music theory with John Cage. 'A Concert of Dance,' the first Judson concert, took place on July 6, 1962. There were a total of 14 choreographers and 17 performers,[2] some of whom were students in the aforementioned composition class. Other performers in the concert were members of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, as well as visual artists, filmmakers, and composers.[1] Presented within this concert included works created by Yvonne Rainer, Steve Paxton, David Gordon, Alex and Deborah Hay, Fred Herko, Elaine Summers, William Davis, and Ruth Emerson.

Mid-Years

Starting in the Fall of 1962, the group held weekly workshops at which they performed and received critique. These meetings were held first at Yvonne Rainer's studio, then at the Judson Memorial Church. Throughout the next two years, nearly two hundred works were presented by the collective. The name Judson Dance Theater was adopted in April 1963. Members were able to participate in performance and multimedia art instillations, or “happenings”, that took place around the city.[1]

Artistic Philosophy

Yvonne Rainer's 'No Manifesto'[3] (in which she rejects any confines to technique, thrill, spectacle, glamour, or assumed space) is a prime example of many of the artistic intentions of the cooperative: a rejection of spectacular, virtuosic, narrative, and expressive choreographic approaches. The collective was a place for collaboration between artists in various fields such as, dancers, writers, filmmakers, composers, etc.[1] Their goal in this collaboration was to observe dance in its most pure form. This resulted in the elimination of many theatrical elements such as narratives, elaborate costumes, scenery, and formal dance technique. The group constantly redefined itself by these collaborative efforts.

Although the collective remained in this liberally undefined state, several reoccurring themes and styles emerged from the work. Democratic structures, improvisation, and the emphasis of process over product all arose as underlying characteristics of the group.[1] Everyday movement became inspiration for material in many of the pieces created, and some of the Judson Dance Theater artists used untrained performers and dancers. For example, Rainer taught "Trio A" to "anyone who wanted to learn it--skilled and unskilled, trained and untrained, professional and amateur," and allowed it to be freely taught to a wide range of people.[4]

Influences

Two American artists notorious for their contributions to the Judson Dance Theater were American painter Robert Rauschenberg and conceptual artist Robert Morris. Composer John Herbert McDowell also contributed. Other influential choreographers include Anna Halprin, James Waring, Simone Forti, among other avant-garde choreographers.[1]

Legacy

In 1964 when the company performances ceased, the legacy of the group continued as individual members continued to create work that upheld the group's fundamental philosophies. For instance, James Waring and his dancers continued presenting work, as well as original members and second generation Judson performers. Perhaps the most influential aspect of Judson's legacy was not the work they produced, but the lens through which they regarded their work, which promoted the concept that anything could be looked at as dance.[1]

Notable Works

  • Yvonne Rainer- 'Trio A,' 'Ordinary Dance'
  • Steve Paxton- 'Satisfyin’ Lover'

The Judson Dance Theater produced nearly two hundred dances.[5]

Influence

Developments in dance practice that can be traced back to the Judson Dance Theater include:

Performers

Some of the notable seminal dance artists, musicians and visual artists who were part of the Judson Dance Theater include:

[2] See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Banes, Sally. "Judson Dance Theater". International Encyclopedia of Dance. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195173697.001.0001/acref-9780195173697-e-0887.
  2. 1 2 Johnston, Jill (August 23, 1962). "Democracy" (PDF). Village Voice.
  3. ↑ "Yvonne Rainer, "No Manifesto"".
  4. ↑ Rainer, Yvonne (Winter 2009). "Trio A: Genealogy, Documentation, Notation". Dance Research Journal. 41 (2): 16. JSTOR 27764529.
  5. ↑ "Judson Dance Theater". 100 Dance Treasures. Dance Heritage Coalition. Retrieved 27 September 2015.

Further reading

  • Banes, Sally (1993) Democracy's Body: Judson Dance Theater, 1962-1964. Duke University press. ISBN 0-8223-1399-5
  • Burt, Ramsay (2006) Judson Dance Theater: Performative traces. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-97574-3
  • "The First Concert of Dance at the Judson Dance Theater"
  • Chin, Daryl (2010) "Mistaken Identities, Part II"
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