Mark Morris Dance Group

Mark Morris Dance Group
Name	Mark Morris Dance Group
Founded	1980
Founder	Mark Morris
Headquarters	Brooklyn, New York
Venue	Mark Morris Dance Center

Mark Morris Dance Group

Mark Morris Dance Group is a contemporary dance company founded in 1980 by choreographer Mark Morris. The company is based in Brooklyn and is known for its collaborations with musicians, orchestras, and visual artists, presenting works in venues ranging from theaters to concert halls. Its activities span performance, education, community engagement, and a dedicated school and rehearsal center.

History

Founded in 1980 by choreographer Mark Morris following his departure from José Limón Dance Company, the company quickly achieved prominence with premieres in New York and international tours to Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Tokyo. Early collaborators included pianists such as Lynn Harrell and ensembles like the New York Philharmonic, and the company developed repertory for presenters including Jacob's Pillow, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center. In the 1990s the company established a permanent home at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, expanding activities to include the Dance/USA network and partnerships with institutions like Princeton University and Royal Opera House. The company weathered the death of significant collaborators and continued to tour widely to festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and venues including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

Artistic Style and Repertoire

The company’s aesthetic reflects the founder’s interest in musicality, integrating choreographic structures informed by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, and Britten. Repertory ranges from intimate chamber scores to large-scale collaborations with orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and ensembles such as Alarm Will Sound. Works often incorporate designs by artists including Judy Pfaff and Isaac Mizrahi, and draw on sources from folk music traditions and historical dance forms like baroque dance and folk dance while juxtaposing contemporary sensibilities. Signature pieces—created for companies and festivals including Aterballetto and Vienna State Opera—demonstrate rhythmic intricacy, ensemble clarity, and theatrical wit.

Company Structure and Leadership

The artistic leadership has been guided by founder Mark Morris as Artistic Director, with administrative oversight involving executive directors and boards drawn from institutions such as Americans for the Arts and philanthropic foundations like Ford Foundation. Resident musicians and répétiteurs collaborate alongside principal dancers, company members, and apprentices from training programs affiliated with schools such as Juilliard School and Bates College. Production teams include stage managers who have worked at venues like Metropolitan Opera and technical directors with credits in touring productions for presenters including Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The governance includes partnerships with residency hosts such as Worcester State University and funding relationships with agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts.

School, Education, and Community Programs

The Mark Morris Dance Center houses a school offering curriculum that attracts students from institutions like Brooklyn College, SUNY Purchase, and Marymount Manhattan College. Educational offerings include technique classes, fellowships, and outreach programs in collaboration with organizations such as Public School 39 and cultural partners including Brooklyn Public Library. Community initiatives extend to programs for older adults developed with Mount Sinai Hospital and intergenerational workshops presented with museums like the Brooklyn Museum. The company’s education department has produced curriculum materials used in residency programs at arts organizations such as Young Audiences and arts festivals including Dance Umbrella.

Performances, Tours, and Collaborations

The company’s touring history includes engagements with leading presenters—Sadler's Wells, Teatro alla Scala, Sydney Opera House, and BAM—and collaborations with orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Cross-disciplinary work has involved partnerships with filmmakers from British Film Institute, designers working with Metropolitan Museum of Art, and choreographic commissions from ballet companies like San Francisco Ballet and contemporary ensembles such as Martha Graham Dance Company. The group has premiered site-specific works at venues including Governors Island and civic projects with cultural agencies like NEA-supported festivals. Broadcasts and recordings have appeared on outlets such as PBS and recordings with labels that document live performances.

Awards and Recognition

The company and founder have received accolades from institutions such as the MacArthur Foundation, the Bessie Awards, and honors presented by National Medal of Arts committees and cultural bodies including Dance Magazine. Mark Morris’s choreography has been recognized with awards from foundations like the Guggenheim Foundation and lifetime achievement honors bestowed by organizations such as American Dance Festival and New York City Ballet-affiliated programs. Prestigious commissions and residencies with festivals such as Spoleto Festival USA and international producers have further cemented the group’s reputation.

Category:Dance companies in New York City Category:Modern dance companies