Yvonne Rainer's Trio A Turns 60 with Tate Modern Celebrations

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Yvonne Rainer's solo work, Trio A, which is celebrated as a pivotal piece in the postmodern dance movement. To commemorate this occasion, Tate Modern in London will host free, extended performances and discussions on July 10–11. Premiering in 1966, Trio A features everyday movements—like toe taps and the unfolding of limbs—without music or narrative, and the actions never repeat. Rainer describes the performance as having an 'uninflected continuity,' with performers avoiding eye contact with the audience. Certified transmitters Pat Catterson and Sara Wookey are staging the event. Catterson first encountered Trio A in 1969 at the Billy Rose Theatre in New York City, where audience members attempted to join in. Rainer, now 91, expressed gratitude for the recognition, and the event will include its inaugural audio description. Wookey is instructing 15 professionals aged 30 to 67 from diverse backgrounds. Rainer has permitted various adaptations, including versions for wheelchair users and even for plants in a Chicago experiment. Notably, Catterson performed Trio A backward at Judson Church in 1970, donning only an American flag as a protest against the Vietnam War.