Suite for Five (1956–1958)


Music: John Cage, From Music for Piano
Costumes: Robert Rauschenberg
Lighting: Beverly Emmons

This piece was made by adding a trio, duet, and quintet to Merce Cunningham’s earlier Solo Suite in Space and Time (1953), which consisted of five solos. Under the title Suite for Five in Space and Time, it was first performed at the University of Notre Dame in May 1956. The piece underwent further changes during the next two years: Cunningham’s five solos were reduced to three, and a solo for Carolyn Brown (originally choreographed for a duet version, Suite for Two, in 1958) was added. This Suite for Five was first performed in Muncie, Indiana, in July 1958, and remained in the repertory until 1972, when Carolyn Brown left the company.

In 1999 Suite was revived for the Cunningham Repertory Understudy Group in an abbreviated version consisting of one solo, the trio, duet, and quintet. This version also began to be included in the dance company’s Event performances. In 2002 Suite was restaged for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company by Carolyn Brown and Cunningham, and first performed during the company’s appearances in the Lincoln Center Festival 2002 at the New York State Theater. This version included the woman’s solo and two of Cunningham’s original solos. Cédric Andrieux and Ashley Chen alternated in his role (later also danced by Daniel Madoff) and Derry Swan and Holley Farmer in Brown’s (later also danced by Andrea Weber). Suite for Five was filmed, under the direction of Charles Atlas, in June 2006.