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Merce Cunningham Obituary

CUNNINGHAM--Merce. The Board and Staff of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. deeply mourn the passing of Merce Cunningham, choreographer, dancer, and friend. Merce himself danced at Lincoln Center's first performance festival in 1963, and, most recently, in 1999. Over the years, it has been our privilege and honor to present one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century and his company to Lincoln Center audiences. We join with the international arts community in extending our sympathies to his dancers, his friends, and to audience members who have lost a giant of the dance world. Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chairman Reynold Levy, President Jane S. Moss, Vice President Programming Nigel Redden, Director Lincoln Center Festival Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Jul. 28, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Merce Cunningham

26 Entries

April 3, 2010

For Merce...the avant-garde dancer and choreographer who revolutionized modern dance by creating works of pure movement divorced from storytelling and even from their musical accompaniment.

WEEP NOT FOR ME

Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell among the wonders of the earth; for my larger self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side of pain...on the other side of darkness.

Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine that touches your skin, a tropical breeze upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.

I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your hour of need, I will be there to comfort you. I will share your tears, your joys, your fears, your disappointments and your triumphs.

Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels, and hear the music beyond the stars.

Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses the flowers. I am the calm that follows a raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats among the garden of God, and I am pure white snow that softly falls upon your hand.

Do not weep for me, for I shall never die, as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.

© Joe Fazio
~
[email protected] /Joe Fazio,
Beverly Hills, California

Carrie Lee Schwartz

August 9, 2009

Thank you Merce, for giving the world so many beautiful examples through your work- on how to move through space and time with grace, agility, fearlessness, and humor. Thank you also for embracing new media in the art of dance. You will forever be an inspiration. My condolences to your loved ones.

Tasheo Bukkake

August 3, 2009

What a wonderful dancer and amazing man. I saw him perform in Tokyo several years ago. Amazing. Just marvelous.

Donald Pero

July 31, 2009

Sadly, I learn of Merce Cunningham's passing. He was a multi-talented genius who made great contributions to numerous art forms, which will long be remembered. Never having met him, I learned of his talents through a dear friend, Jane Moak Yockel, who touted his numerous abilities. His legacy lives on. Our prayers are with his family and friends.

Donald Pero

July 31, 2009

Sadly, I learn Of Merce Cunningham's passing. He was a multi-talented genious who made great contributions to numerous art forms, which will long be remembered. Never having met him, I learned of his talents through a dear friend, Jane Moak Yockel, who touted his numerous abilities. His legacy lives on. Our prayers are with his family and friends.

Wanda Henry

July 31, 2009

I'm so sorry to hear of Cunningham's passing. Death is a hard thing to deal with,so my prayers are for his family at this bereaved time. Because of sin, death spread to all men. But God gives life, their is hope for Merce to be resurrected through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dana Kyle DeMartino

July 31, 2009

July 31, 2009
One of the most joyous experiences in my life was as a young teenager working with you, Merce, and John Cage at the Connecticut College Dance Festival. I was a ballet dancer at that point but you changed my perception of music and movement. I remember being in the air on the downbeats. Everything was new for me and I was dazzled by your creativity. I will love you and John forever.

Ann

July 31, 2009

May the family have comfort in knowing that God promise that he will wipe out every tear from our eyes,and death will be no more,neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.The former things have passed away.

Linda May Nicola

July 30, 2009

I had the pleasure or might I say honour to attend a lecture given by Mr. Cunningham and Mr.Cage at the University of New York at Buffalo.He had been such an inspiration to me as a dancer,choreographer and poet which I committed my life to after graduation.I later studied at his school in West Bethune St.,NYC.He has joined Martha for the eternal dance...xxx

Margo Ruark

July 30, 2009

Mr. Cunningham, We never met, but you changed my life as you were changing dance. I cherish your work and your great vision. Thank you. We will miss you. Love and prayers to the entire family of dancers you touched.

Gail Lilly Todd

July 29, 2009

Dance is all the better because of you. Dance throughout eternity.
April Legail Todd, a dancer
Gail Lilly Todd, mother of a dancer

Rachel G

July 29, 2009

Rest in peace....

Susan Shoopman

July 29, 2009

God, filled with Motherly Compassion,
grant a full and perfect rest
under the wings of Your sheltering Sh'khinah/ Presence

Henryk Zaleski

July 29, 2009

Rest in peace while you can dance on the clouds.

Sam Gronseth

July 29, 2009

Merce was a true innovator in in his field, one of Centralia's most influential leaders. His creative contribution will live on. My prayers are with the family.

Sam Gronseth, Paradise, CA

Linda Diamond

July 28, 2009

I am so sad to hear the news about Merce, a gentle lion who
was always soft spoken as a teacher, and his zen outlook on composition classes taught us so much. His tireless continuation
in dance gives inspiration to all dancers and choreographers.
I consider him family and feel the great loss to the family of dance
as well as for those relatives he leaves behind.

May his beautiful spirit continue to guide us through the next
generations of dancers.

Linda Diamond
Diamond Dance Views
woodstocktv.org Sat. ll Am to noon
[email protected]

Chele

July 28, 2009

There is no sorrow that God in heaven cannot heal. May your memories bring you comfort and joy.

Joshua Brooks

July 28, 2009

Oh Lord, Have Merce

Dear Lord, we offer this man
this famous dancer, Merce Cunningham
May you enjoy him
as much as us earthlings did

Though many of us didn't know him,
some of us knew who he was
And although it was expected
his death has caused quite a buzz

So I say to you, oh lord
within the contents of this verse
Will You, oh Lord,
Please, Have Merce?

Kristin Ligocki

July 28, 2009

Merce Cunningham was so wonderfully sweet when he asked me, "My and wherever did you come from, my dear?" I wanted to say Mars, but I was honest and told my true hometown of Hershey, PA as I was honored to be around a revolutionary not just in Dance, but in Electronic music compositions as well. He and John Cage are my heroes. Us humble dancers will cherish your influence for years to come...thank you for your spirit and dancing, Merce and all the love to your family and fellow dancers throughout your lifetime.
Kristin Ligocki

Charles Lai

July 28, 2009

Great dancer.
I've seen him in action, a long time ago.

Barbara Biggs

July 28, 2009

My sincerely condolences to the family. My mother spoke of Mr. Cunningham at various times, when his name was in the news. My mother went to school with him in Centralia.

JON LOWDER

July 27, 2009

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

July 27, 2009

Merce was one of the greatest in the field of dance and movement exploration. He broke boundaries, established new definitions and open a new world of artistic expression for others of follow. How wonderful to have a life devoted to a single love - art ! How incredible to become noted for your contributions in today's modern dance world stage. His memory of dance works lives on and his life is celebrated!

Pat, from Utah

P S

July 27, 2009

RIP

Colin Burke

July 27, 2009

I met Merce Cunningham during his visit to CCSU in late 1989 or early 1990(?) for a dance-video workshop. It's a cliche, but it really was an experience I will never forget. At that time I was a video / art student. I remember thinking he was very lithe and so patient with those of us with zero dance experience.

His filmmaker, Elliot Caplan, was there to help us learn about the video space of the performance. This was a time when the hardware and software for computer animation was still very crude, but Merce was such a forward thinking artist, he knew these tools would become staples in choreography.

I didn't really know who Merce Cunningham was until I had this opportunity to work with him. This was well before the internet, google and wikipedia, so I had to go to the library to research him. When I found his connections to John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, and Black Mountain College--it opened up a whole new way of looking at art history, a personal narrative. This led to a renewed interest and love for art and history I still have today. I also learned about the I Ching and chance operations which led to further reading and research.

I last saw Merce in New York 2000 or 2001, I was late getting to the performance of a John Cage memorial and he was on his way in. He had some help, he had a hard time walking then. But he was there and I said "hello" and watched someone give up their seat for him.

You can go ahead and google to see the long reach of Merce Cunningham's contributions to and influence in dance and the arts. I will always remember him as someone who lived his life fully as an artist and teacher.

Colin Burke, Hartford CT

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