Avant-garde dance often carries a playful spirit, a fact beautifully illustrated during a recent rehearsal for Set and Reset. This iconic collaboration, which debuted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in 1983, showcases the talents of choreographer Trisha Brown, musician Laurie Anderson, and visual artist Robert Rauschenberg, who contributed both costumes and set designs.
This weekend, Set and Reset returns to BAM as part of an international celebration of Rauschenberg's centennial. Titled "Dancing with Bob," the tour will continue through May and features a diverse program, including Travelogue (1977), originally choreographed by Merce Cunningham and restaged by the Trisha Brown Company for the first time since 1979. Additionally, Rauschenberg's set for Brown's Glacial Decoy (1979) is currently on display at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, also until May.
At its core, Set and Reset is a vibrant testament to collaboration, where the distinct visions of each artist harmoniously coexist. Rauschenberg emphasized the importance of each artist's independence, celebrating their unique contributions.
The choreography reflects this autonomy, with dancers frequently breaking into small groups, creating a dynamic yet cohesive performance. The improvisational nature of the piece allows for unexpected moments, such as trust falls and playful interactions, all executed with a sense of safety and spontaneity.
Brown's innovative approach involved capturing movement that feels both alive and intentional. The performance features moments of striking unity amid the chaos, evoking a sense of connection among the dancers. The lively score, with Anderson's whimsical lyrics, adds to the overall charm, creating an atmosphere that is both engaging and entertaining.
Rauschenberg's design elements, including translucent scrims, enhance the visual experience, allowing dancers to seamlessly transition on and off stage. His costumes, characterized by loose, sheer fabrics, contribute to an illusion of shifting forms, adding depth to the performance.
Moreover, the collaborative spirit extends to Travelogue, which utilizes a random number generator to dictate the musicians' performances, resulting in a unique auditory experience each time. This element of unpredictability mirrors the dancers' movements, reinforcing the theme of spontaneity.
While their collaboration was brief, it left an indelible mark on the world of dance and visual art. The creative synergy between Rauschenberg, Anderson, and Brown exemplifies how collaboration can yield extraordinary artistic expressions, reminding us of the joy found in playful exploration.