Black and Tan, 1948

Françoise Sullivan, Black and Tan, 1948, performance, costume by Jean-Paul Mousseau.
Set to the music of jazz pianist Duke Ellington, this dance piece attempted to capture the expansive power of movement. Sullivan started by moving her feet close to the ground, tracing a figure eight, the movement spreading through her body. Her use of facial expression was innovative and contrasted strongly with classical dancers’ traditionally impassive features; when the movement reached her face, Sullivan stood still, facing the audience, tracing the figure eight with only her eyes.
Gallery

Dance in the Snow (Danse dans la neige), 1948

Black and Tan, 1948

Callooh Callay, 1967

Of One (De une), 1968–69

Walk between the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts (Promenade entre le Musée d’art contemporain et le Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal), 1970

Legend of Artists (La légende des artistes), 1976

Blocked Phone Booth (Cabine téléphonique bloquée), 1978–79

Mountain (Montagne), 1997

Homage to Paterson (Hommage à Paterson), 2003