1963
June 25. Concert of Dance No. 8. Judson Memorial Church. Ensemble: MN, Malcolm Goldstein, Dick Higgins, Norma Marder, Elizabeth Munro, Arlene Rothlein, Beverly Schmidt, Vincent Wright, James Tenney. Work(s): Philip Corner, Flares: A Happening (1963). Program: Judith Dunn, Speedlimit (1963); Arlene Rothlein, Another Letter to the Sun (for Charles Ives). See Judson Memorial Church Archive, Series A: Arts, Subseries 2: Judson Dance Theater, Box 2, Folder 39
On June 25, 1963, Max Neuhaus participated in Concert of Dance No. 8 at the Judson Memorial Church, a landmark event in the history of postmodern dance and the New York avant-garde.
This concert exemplified the radical interdisciplinarity of the Judson Dance Theater, where musicians, dancers, and visual artists functioned as a single ensemble.
The ensemble performed Philip Corner’s Flares: A Happening (1963). As noted by Sally Banes, this piece was a structured improvisation where "flares" of activity (sound, movement, light) erupted within a shared space.
A "who's who" of the 1963 scene, including James Tenney, Malcolm Goldstein, and Fluxus founder Dick Higgins, alongside dancers like Arlene Rothlein and Beverly Schmidt.
In these Judson "Happenings," Neuhaus moved beyond the role of a traditional percussionist. He was an "active body" in the space, contributing sonic textures that interacted directly with the dancers' movements.
The evening also featured Judith Dunn’s Speedlimit and Rothlein’s tribute to Charles Ives, reflecting the community's deep interest in American experimental roots Judson Memorial Church Archive.