The Merce Cunningham Dance Company

It’s getting harder and harder to get into the University of Minnesota. Fortunately for choreographer Merce Cunningham, he’s getting his U of M degree–albeit an honorary one–without going through the application process, let alone putting in the miles-long hikes between classes. At eighty-six years old, he’s probably glad about that. This month, Cunningham will be honored in numerous ways for his profound contributions to modern dance. The honorary degree is just the beginning; he’ll also be analyzed in a public lecture (November 1) called “How to Watch a Cunningham Concert,” and an exhibition of his drawings are on display at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery. Finally, his fourteen-member company will perform three landmark works from various points in his career: Suite for Five, with music by John Cage and costumes by Robert Rauschenberg; Native Green, with music by John King; and Split Sides, a 2003 work with music by Sigur Ros and Radiohead. Split Sides is never performed the same way twice; the piece opens with a roll of the dice that determines the sequence of the elements of the dance–the math works out to offer thirty-two possible combinations. 612-624-2345; www.northrop.umn.edu