As part of the Making Dances series, the Dance On Ensemble has invited French choreographer Mathilde Monnier to respond in her own language to a historical masterpiece of postmodern dance: Merce Cunningham’s “Story” (1963).

In London Story, Cunningham’s work is reinterpreted by the Dance On Ensemble. The dancers have invented new material based on archive material, which has been integrated into the indeterminate structure of the piece. In her work never ending (Story), Mathilde Monnier reacts to Cunningham‘s piece and takes the poetry of David Antin, a contemporary of Merce Cunningham and John Cage, as her starting point.

The Dance On Ensemble was founded in 2015 by the Berlin-based cultural organisation Bureau Ritter and celebrates the artistic excellence of dancers over 40. In collaboration with internationally renowned choreographers and directors, including Rabih Mroué, Lucinda Childs, Meg Stuart and Jan Martens, the Dance On Ensemble develops a programme of innovative and challenging contemporary dance works. The aim is to create a solid foundation for a rich and ambitious repertoire for dancers aged 40 and over.

London Story
Choreography Merce Cunningham

Based on the original choreographic work “Story” by Merce Cunningham 1963.
Additional choreographic directions and material developed by the Dance On Ensemble under the direction of Daniel Squire. An indeterminate work reconfigured for each show using both chance operations and in-performance decision making.

Composer Toshi Ichiyanagi
Set, Costumes, Lighting after the concept of Robert Rauschenberg
Cast Ty Boomershine, Emma Lewis, Gesine Moog, Tim Persent, Jone San Martin, Marco Volta
Live-Music Mattef Kuhlmey
Artist Christopher Matthews
Stager Daniel Squire
Light Patrick Lauckner/Falk Dittrich
Light on Tour Martin Beeretz
Costume Sophia Piepenbrock-Saitz
Assistant to the Director Clarissa Omiecienski
Production Director Hélène Philippot
Coordinator Productions and Participation Anastasia Luck
International Distribution Fauves – agency for the performing arts

Production Dance On/Bureau Ritter
Under licence of the Merce Cunningham Trust

never ending (Story)
Choreography Mathilde Monnier
Cast Ty Boomershine, Emma Lewis, Gesine Moog, Jone San Martin, Marco Volta
Light Design Martin Beeretz
Sound Design Mattef Kuhlmey
Artistic Collaboration Stéphane Bouquet
Costume Mathilde Monnier
Costume Assistance Nora Stocker
Technical Direction Martin Beeretz
Production Director Hélène Philippot
Coordinator Productions and Participation Anastasia Luck
International Distribution Fauves – agency for the performing arts

Production Dance On/Bureau Ritter
In cooperation with Kammerspiele München

With the support of Montpellier Danse à l’Agora, cité internationale de la danse

DANCE ON is a project by Bureau Ritter gUG, funded by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the State of Berlin and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union as part of DANCE ON, PASS ON, DREAM ON.