For four nights in mid-September, something very different was conveyed out of St. Cloud Quarry, 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis — the sounds of musical instruments and audience applause.

The much-anticipated performances of Merce Cunningham's Ocean attracted more than 4,000 people to St. Cloud's 100-foot-deep "Rainbow Quarry" pit (one of two at the site). The 90-minute production was danced in the round and featured a 150-member orchestra surrounding the audience.

The performances were co-produced by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company of New York and Minneapolis' Walker Art Center, in association with the Benedicta Arts Center of the College of Saint Benedict and Northrop Dance at the University of Minnesota.

Selling out a month in advance, the performances attracted media attention from outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio.

St. Cloud Plant Manager Mike Reinert says....  read more