David Vaughan, archivist of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC); Carol Teitelbaum, chair of the Cunningham Studio’s Faculty; Nancy Dalva, dance critic and producer of “Mondays with Merce”; Fast Forward, composer and MCDC’s touring musician; Robert Swinston, MCDC dancer and Merce’s assistant for the past 19 years; Jennifer Goggans, MCDC dancer; Jamie Scott, new MCDC dancer; Krista Nelson and John Hinrichs, Repertory Understudy Group, interviewed by Foofwa d'Imobilité – August 1-12 2009 – New York – editing and translation in French in the making.
Voice-overview:
“A few days after Merce’s death, I wanted to catch a unique moment in the history of dance - when an organization begins transitioning from a company directed by a living and creative choreographer to a repertory company dedicated to celebrating his work. In this transition, one passes from the future (the avant-garde, the new piece, the next tour), to the past (preservation, continuation of what came before, patrimony). During the same period, the company has to emotionally survive its present loss, and determine its future.
I love the history of dance and believe that this is a somewhat important moment to capture, because it is an example of the eternal problematics of art preservation. The fact that I was a dancer in the company a decade earlier and know all the people interviewed plays a special role in the way these people speak and interact with me. I tried to be as insightful and respectful as possible. I apologize for any mistakes and oversights, and of course I regret I couldn't interview a lot more people. This is the result of who was in town and who had time for me.
The title, Nearly A Week After Sunday, contains three references. The first is the title of Merce's last piece called Nearly Ninety. The second is the title of John Cage's 1964 book : A Year From Monday. And finally, Merce died on a Sunday. Hence Nearly A Week After Sunday.” – FdI