August Pace: 1989-2019
54m
Directed by Daniel Madoff • Documentary • 2022 • 54 minutes
Thirty years after the world premiere of legendary choreographer Merce Cunningham’s "August Pace," the original cast members gather once again in a New York City studio to teach their roles to a younger generation. Their reunion is a grand experiment in group transmission where the older dancers rediscover the work only to let it go and see it anew as observers.
In this fly-on-the-wall documentary, we witness the original cast both in archival footage and in the studio as, with touching poignancy and humor, they grapple with movement they danced in their prime. The young artists, making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, eagerly draw on their predecessor’s knowledge to take on these same challenges with fresh energy and determination.
Along the way, new bonds are formed against a background of memories, stories, and laughter.