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IDENTIFICATION AND BIO: A prominent dancer with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Chris Komar served as assistant artistic director of the company in the years before his death. He also choreographed for dancer Susie Bauer, a friend who was formerly of Milwaukee Ballet and artistic director of Bauer Contemporary Ballet. Komar earned his BFA in dance from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and joined Milwaukee Ballet as one of its charter members for two seasons. In 1972, he joined the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and, after a year's apprenticeship, continued with the company longer than any other performer before him, performing until 1993. As a dancer with the Cunningham company, Komar created over 45 roles, and in 1983 was named as assistant to the choreographer for the Cunningham Company, ultimately being groomed to take over the artistic directorship of the company. He was in the process of writing a book on Cunningham's technique when he died of AIDS-related causes in 1996.
KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
Art Becofsky, companion, former executive director of the Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation
David Vaughan, archivist
HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
James Pease, composer/audio engineer
VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
MOVEMENT NOTATION
"The idea of Chris choreographing a solo for me was first discussed in January 1984. Chris explained his notation system to me and we decided that we could work on the piece through the mail. When the movement material arrived, I translated his notation into my own system to fascilitate speedreading in rehearsal. Each movement phrase had an approximate timing, which gave a context and tempo for the rhythm of the phrase. I used a stopwatch to check my tempi against his. I then videotaped my 'translation' of Chris's notation and sent it to him for comments, manipulations and notes. I received word from Chris: It worked!" "The last movement phrases, notes on changes, spacing, timing suggestions and an altered movement sequence structure arrived in the mail along with a video of Chris dancing his manipulation of my translation of his choreography as the finished piece. Chris came to Milwaukee for a day. In four hours of rehearsal we were able to clear up problem areas and make minor adjustments to bring Replace to life. More rehearsal—communication, more over the phone than through the agonizingly slow mail—one last tweak with video—and here we are!"
PRODUCTION MATERIALS
ORAL HISTORY:
PERSONAL PAPERS
IMMEDIATE NEEDS
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
Komar received a New York Dance and Performance Award ("Bessie") for service to dance in 1991.
PARTIAL LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS
Past to Pass (1971)—trio for dancers Komar, Susie Bauer, and Bonnie Jurk; University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Replace (1985)—premiered April 12 & 13, 1985, Vogel Hall, Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, solo for Susie Bauer; music: James Pease & Richard Cox; costume design: Susie Bauer; lighting design: Carl Schmidt Indicate (1986)—premiered October 17 & 18, 1986, Vogel Hall, Performing Arts Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; solo for Susie Bauer; music: James Pease; costume design: Susie Bauer; lighting design: SAM (Sally Ann Mesich) ReVision (1988)—premiered November 4 & 5, 1988, Robert G. Pittman Theatre, Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; dancers: Susie Bauer and Karl Broman; music: James Pease; costume design: Susie Bauer; lighting design: SAM
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