Merce Cunningham

Merce Cunningham is a choreographer born in 1919. He was a living and working companion of John Cage.

He trained with Martha Graham and met John Cage, who was their piano accompanist, there. He continued his study at the American School of the Ballet, and became a star of the choreography world after his first joint recital with Cage in 1944.

He formed his own company in 1953, and despite suffering from arthritis continued to choreograph works into the 1990s. He is my hero.