One year ago: Merce Cunningham

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Pioneering choreographer Merce Cunningham ‘changed dance, and, in his continual need for innovative scores, he helped change music as well,’ wrote Mark Swed, The Times’ music critic. ‘He always wanted to be one step ahead of everyone else so he could learn something new.’

Cunningham, who died a year ago at age 90, joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1939 and formed his own company in 1953.

‘Every piece is so different in its dynamics and space and variety of language,’ Mikhail Baryshnikov told Newsday in 1999. ‘No words can describe my admiration and fascination with this man.’

His news obituary appeared in The Times on July 28, 2009.

--Keith Thursby