EXCERPT from FOREWORD:
Merce Cunningham (1919 - 2009) was a leader of the American avant-garde throughout his seventy-year career and is considered one of the most important choreographers of our time. Through much of his life, he was also one of the greatest American dancers. With an artistic career distinguished by constant innovation, Cunningham expanded the frontiers not only of dance, but also of contemporary visual and performing arts. His collaborations with artistic leaders from every creative discipline yielded an unparalleled body of American dance, music, and visual art.
The Cunningham Dance Foundation (CDF), which, among other things, operated the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC) and the Merce Cunningham Studio and School, was formed in 1964 to fulfill Cunningham’s artistic vision.1 But as its founder approached the age of 90, CDF was obliged to confront a future without its leader. To honor Cunningham’s profound artistic achievements, to secure the future of his choreographic legacy and to recognize those who helped bear out his vision, CDF developed the Legacy Plan, the core elements of which were:
- a final two-year world tour of the dance company extensive preservation of Cunningham’s work
- closure of both the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Cunningham Dance Foundation
- financial assistance to the dancers and other CDF staff to help transition to new employment
- an extensive fundraising campaign to fund the plan
The Legacy Plan has been a resounding success. With the coordinated transition to the Merce Cunningham Trust (MCT), Cunningham’s legacy is in a position to flourish. At the time of the publication of this report, under the auspices of the trust, Cunningham Technique is being taught at three studios in New York City. In the fall of 2011, the trust announced the Cunningham Fellowship program, through which former MCDC dancers learn to restage Cunningham works during an intensive multi-week workshop with pre- professional students. Merce’s creative legacy is available for study at the New York Public Library and digitally preserved in “Dance Capsules” available online.2 The trust continues to pursue the licensing of Cunningham works to other dance companies and educational institutions, as well as sponsoring related projects, ensuring that the public will continue to have access to Cunningham’s work.
CDF is proud of its role in setting a precedent for the arts community in considering questions of legacy and in helping to open up possible avenues of funding for post-founder planning. Since the execution of the Legacy Plan, choreographers, dance companies and other arts organizations have approached CDF for information and guidance about legacy planning. It is hoped that by laying out its experience in this report, CDF will make it easier for other organizations to face the transition into a post-founder existence. In addition to providing a road map for the creation of a “legacy plan,” including fundraising and organizational information, the report also explains not only the thinking that went into the development of the Legacy Plan, but also how the Plan evolved to meet changing circumstances. This report should also generate a more open approach to the difficult question of the preservation of an artist’s legacy.
The Legacy Plan moved forward on the power of an idea, carried by the commitment of the dancers, musicians, artists, individuals, and key funders who invested their time, talent and support to ensure its success. The Cunningham Dance Foundation would like to sincerely thank the dedicated members of the Board of Directors for their leadership and the many staff members, patrons, presenters and audience members whose passion and support across the years made Merce’s work possible. Not least, we thank Merce and his company for their marvelous performances throughout the marathon of the Legacy Tour, and all of the years before.
December 31, 2012 New York, N.Y. Cunningham Dance Foundation, Inc. Trevor Carlson Executive Director Judith R. Fishman Chairman, Board of Directors Allan G. Sperling Chairman, Legacy Committee
