"What started as a loose collection of friends, dancing for free, has grown into one of America’s most beloved dance institutions, a touring powerhouse…” -Associated Press
"No choreographer is as inventive as Morris, nor as flexible, with his fluency in ballet as well as in his own brand of muscular, springy, musically astute modern dance. Morris has always balanced high-art sophistication (he insists on live musical accompaniment) with lowbrow humanism (toy pianos, 1960s suburbia, tacky Western wear). In other words, he embraces it all, and that’s the great glory of his work. - The Washington Post
On November 28, 1980, the Mark Morris Dance Group had its debut performance at the Merce Cunningham Studios in New York City.
The 2010- 2011 season marks the Dance Group's 30th anniversary.
The celebration includes three world premieres; public conversations; events for Friends of MMDG and students of The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center; film screenings in Chicago, Seattle and more; new photography exhibits; and of course, performances to live music.
METLIFE FOUNDATION
30th Anniversary Sponsor
MMDG TOURS TO OVER 20 CITIES - WITH LIVE MUSIC FEATURING THE MMDG MUSIC ENSEMBLE;
WORKS BY MORRIS PERFORMED COAST TO COAST, INCLUDING:
• THE RETURN OF THE HARD NUT TO NEW YORK CITY IN 2010 AND ITS PREMIERE IN SEATTLE IN 2011;
• THE LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF L'ALLEGRO IN COLLABORATION WITH LOS ANGELES OPERA;
• THE WORLD PREMIERE OF FESTIVAL DANCE, MORRIS' 150th WORK -
AT THE 2011 DANCE CENTER SHOWS;
• NIXON IN CHINA AND ORFEO ED EURIDICE PRESENTED BY THE METROPOLITAN OPERA;
• BALLETS PRESENTED BY PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET AND HOUSTON BALLET;
• WORKS AT THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MILWAUKEE, and COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO.
• AND A CULMINATING EVENT COMBINING THE BEST IN MUSIC AND DANCE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY IN 2012 (DETAILS SOON).
Plus, Access/MMDG, a humanities-based program that offers a more complete Dance Group experience while on tour by integrating events and exhibits which draw upon the rich artistic resources of the company. Exhibitions part of Access/MMDG will also be presented throughout the year at the Dance Center, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011.
“The most prodigiously gifted choreographer of the post-Balanchine era.” -TIME Magazine
RECENT MMDG ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ARTICLES
"Mark Morris has done more to revive interest in, to dignify and illuminate classical music to a broad audience than any conductor or musician of the last 20 years." -BBC Music Magazine
Sign up for our Mailing List to ensure that you have all the latest information and invitations.
Join the celebration.
(photo: Laurel Lynch and Amber Star Merkens in Petrichor © Brian Snyder)
