Ninety Is the New Forty, or Invasion of the eyePods

What kind of octogenarian would you like to be? Us, we’ll be Merce Cunningham please. At 89 the famous choreographer is not only still creating works, but continues in his tradition of pushing the technological envelope by combining dance with accompanying music in unique and often fantastical ways (dude’s had Radiohead compose for him. That we’d love to see). Merilyn Jackson has a wonderful article tracing some of his collaborations and technological innovations in the Inquirer, which has served as a yummy appetizer. You see, we are lucky enough to be going to see the Merce Cunningham Dance Company when they perform at the Annenberg Center tomorrow and Friday nights. And our iPods are already in a flurry of excitement.

Yup, iPods: the performances are comprised of the Philadelphia premieres of Biped and eyeSpace (2006). The latter requires (well, recommends) the audience listen to the accompanying score on an iPod. How friggin’ cool is that? The score, entitled International Cloud Atlas and composed by Mikel Rouse, can be downloaded by advance-ticket holders into a playlist on personal iPods; for those who don’t own one, or who end up at the Annenberg on a whim, the company has 1,000 preloaded iPods to lend. You have to leave a kidney at the front desk, but we hear (ha!) that it’s worth it. But how can you be sure you sync up exactly to the action on stage? Never fear: the music is so layered and multirhythmic that, Rouse says, “people can't believe we're not controlling it. They are amazed at how well it coordinates with the dance.” This does mean however that the dancers are performing without music; there is an ambient soundscape by Stephan Moore playing on the stage (which provides a little stimulation for those who choose to forgo the playlist), but the performers are counting like mad up there. Let us also say that Biped isn’t any slouch either: it explores and plays with the implications of human’s two-leggedness, and features motion-capture projections. What can we say, the guy loves him some technology.

Even if the performance ideas weren’t so, well, neat, this show would still be worth going to. Cunningham is a legend, and it is amazing and a gift that we are still getting new works from him. We really hope he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon—well, why would he really? He’s young yet.

Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Thursday, February 28, 7:30PM
Friday, February 29, 8PM
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut St.
$30-50