Mark Morris Dance Group

Mark Morris Dance Group is a renowned dance company founded by Mark Morris in 1980, known for its diverse and innovative repertoire, which has been influenced by Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, and Alvin Ailey. The company has collaborated with numerous prominent artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Garrison Keillor, and Philip Glass. With a strong emphasis on music, the company has worked with various orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. The company's performances have been hosted by esteemed venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

● History

The company's history began with its first performance at the Danspace Project in New York City in 1980, featuring works by Mark Morris, Trisha Brown, and Lucinda Childs. Over the years, the company has grown to include a diverse group of dancers, including Lauren Grant, Rita Donahue, and Joe Bowie, who have performed at various festivals, such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Spoleto Festival USA, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. The company has also been influenced by the works of Igor Stravinsky, George Frideric Handel, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and has collaborated with choreographers like Twyla Tharp and Paul Taylor. The company's early years were marked by performances at The Kitchen, Dance Theater Workshop, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

● Artistic Style

The company's artistic style is characterized by its emphasis on music and collaboration with other artists, such as composers John Adams and Elliott Carter, and visual artists like Chuck Close and Alex Katz. The company's repertoire includes a wide range of works, from ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to modern dance pieces like RainDog and Gloria. The company has also been influenced by the works of Pina Bausch, William Forsythe, and Trisha Brown, and has performed at various venues, including the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The company's style has been praised by critics like Arlene Croce and Deborah Jowitt, who have written for publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times.

● Notable Works

Some of the company's most notable works include L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, a ballet set to the music of George Frideric Handel, and Dido and Aeneas, an opera based on the work of Henry Purcell. The company has also performed works like The Hard Nut, a ballet set to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Falling Down Stairs, a dance piece set to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The company's repertoire also includes works like Gloria, a dance piece set to the music of Antonio Vivaldi, and Grand Duo, a ballet set to the music of Lou Harrison. The company has collaborated with singers like Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson, and has performed at festivals like the Aspen Music Festival and the Tanglewood Music Festival.

● Company and Education

The company is based in Brooklyn, New York City, and has a strong education program, which includes classes and workshops for dancers of all ages and levels, taught by instructors like Mark Morris and Lauren Grant. The company also offers a summer intensive program, which provides dancers with the opportunity to study with the company's dancers and choreographers, such as Joe Bowie and Rita Donahue. The company has also collaborated with universitys like New York University and Juilliard School, and has performed at venues like the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The company's education program has been supported by organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts.

● Tours and Performances

The company has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, performing at venues like the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The company has also performed in Asia, at venues like the Tokyo Opera City and the Seoul Arts Center, and in South America, at venues like the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. The company's performances have been praised by critics like Clive Barnes and Anna Kisselgoff, who have written for publications like The New York Post and The New York Times. The company has also collaborated with festivals like the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the American Dance Festival, and has performed at venues like the Hollywood Bowl and the Guggenheim Museum.