In “Making Dances”, the Dance On Ensemble invites contemporary artists – Tim Etchells, and Mathilde Monnier– to respond in their own artistic languages to iconic works of modern and postmodern dance by Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham.  In these performance works the artists reflect on classical but radical works that challenged the rules of their time.

Starting with Martha Graham’s “Deep Song” (1937) performed by long term Graham soloist and Dance On Ensemble member Miki Orihara. Danced within a neon text installation created by artist and performance maker Tim Etchells in response to Graham’s seminal work.  Merce Cunningham’s radically experimental “Story” (1963) re-imagined by the Dance On Ensemble.  Followed by the choreography of Mathilde Monnier, “never ending (Story)” who reacts to Cunningham’s “Story”, using the poetry by David Antin, a contemporary of Cunningham/Cage, as a starting point.

In presenting these works a connection is opened between dance heritage and contemporary dance creation as well as between artists of different generations and backgrounds.