The presentation of the 1999 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival's Dance Award to Merce Cunningham. The exact date is uncertain, but was shortly before Cunningham's death on July 26th of that year. Cunningham and his company had a long association, dating back to 1955, with the institution. An introduction by Ella Baff, executive director of Jacob's Pillow, is followed by a brief documentary especially produced for the event. (5:15) While significant parts of the film are comprised of clips from unidentified previous documentaries, new material with Cunningham is shown in which he discusses his dance company's sometimes prickly but mutually respectful relationship with dancer/choreographer Ted Shawn, founder of Jacob's Pillow. The award is then presented, along with, as Baff notes, "$25,000 that the artist may use in any way they choose." Cunningham was unable to attend in person, but accepts via a pretaped segment, apparently taped during a recent prior visit to Jacob's Pillow. (12:00) Robert Swinston, Cunningham's co-choreographer and "second-in-command", as well as a former scholarship student at Jacob's Pillow, then comes to the stage to accept the award in Cunningham's stead. (15:20)
Alternative title
Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation Collection. Moving image materials.