Rare Rauschenberg Experimental Dance Revived at Brooklyn Roller Rink

Why It Matters

Reviving *Pelican* spotlights interdisciplinary experimentation that shaped post‑modern dance, while reinforcing Brooklyn’s role as a hub for avant‑garde performance. The gala amplifies interest in under‑documented works, potentially driving new scholarship and audience engagement.

Key Takeaways

• Trisha Brown Dance Company revives Rauschenberg’s 1963 *Pelican*.
• Performance staged at Brooklyn’s historic Xanadu roller rink.
• Revival coincides with Rauschenberg’s centennial celebrations.
• Original choreography featured skaters, parachutes, and found‑sound score.
• Two Brown works added, honoring Cunningham collaboration.

Pulse Analysis

Robert Rauschenberg’s brief foray into choreography in the early 1960s remains a footnote in art history, yet it encapsulated the era’s appetite for cross‑disciplinary collaboration. Working alongside Merce Cunningham at Black Mountain College, Rauschenberg crafted *Pelican* as a kinetic collage, merging visual art, sound, and movement on a roller‑skating platform. Although only two minutes of footage exist, the piece exemplifies the experimental spirit that propelled post‑modern dance beyond studio walls, influencing generations of choreographers who blur the line between everyday objects and performance.

The upcoming “Pelican Gala” at Brooklyn’s Xanadu rink reimagines that fleeting work with a contemporary lens. Former Cunningham dancers Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener will return to the skates, while New York City Ballet soloist Ashley Hod adds a pointe‑shoe counterpoint, echoing the original’s blend of athleticism and ballet. Director Kirstin Kapustik enlisted archivist Francine Snyder to reconstruct the choreography from sparse notes, and Tara Lorenzen’s staging injects modern lighting and a refreshed soundscape that honors the original’s found‑sound collage. By pairing *Pelican* with two of Trisha Brown’s seminal pieces, the program creates a dialogue across decades, highlighting the continuity of experimental practice.

Beyond artistic nostalgia, the revival signals a broader trend of institutions mining archival material to attract new audiences. As cultural venues seek relevance, resurrecting obscure works offers fresh content that differentiates programming and fuels scholarly research. The centennial celebration of Rauschenberg’s birth provides a timely marketing hook, positioning Brooklyn as a crucible for avant‑garde performance. For dancers, scholars, and patrons, the gala underscores the enduring value of preserving and re‑interpreting experimental heritage, ensuring that pioneering works like *Pelican* continue to inspire future generations.