Merce Company To Phase Out
I don’t have the Merce gene, but still I was sad to learn today that the Cunningham Dance Foundation has announced it will close when its 90-year-old founder (pictured) is no longer able to participate in the company’s activities.
The org also launched an $8 million capital campaign to support the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s Living Legacy plan, unveiled Tuesday. Still at the helm of the venerable org, Cunningham has not set a specific signoff date but said that when he can no longer train dancers personally, the company will commence a two-year world tour with a final performance in Gotham.
After that, the org said, the Cunningham Dance Foundation’s assets will be transferred to the Merce Cunningham Trust (of which Cunningham is the sole trustee — he will name a successor when he retires). The dance company will likely close as well.
