Monk, Meredith Jane

1942–, American dancer, choreographer, composer, and filmmaker, b. Lima, Peru, grad. Sarah Lawrence College, 1964. A major figure in the avant-garde, she began her career in the 1960s as a choreographer with the experimental Judson Dance Theater, N.Y.C. In 1968 she formed her own performance group, The House. Monk is best known for innovative ensemble performance pieces. These often concern a journey or quest, sometimes incorporate video or film, and are unified by a continuing stream of rather minimalist music and expressive movement. Her compositions are mainly vocal, ranging from solos (e.g., Our Lady of Late, 1972) to large chorales, and she has recorded several albums of her own songs. The 40-character multimedia theater piece Quarry (1976) is widely recognized as her masterpiece. Monk's other works include the “epic” Vessel (1971), the film Book of Days (1988), and the opera Atlas (1991).