There is a simplicity in Mark Morris’ speaking, and in his choreography, that belies the deep knowledge of music, mastery of form, and breadth of human expression that have earned him recognition as one of today’s pre-eminent living choreographers. This Saturday, his New York-based Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble will make its first Atlanta appearance in nearly 15 years at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

Roger Durbin for Knight Arts Cleveland

There are so many cool things about MMDG, but maybe the top one is that this renowned choreographer makes it an artistic and entertaining point to perform to live music. His group, the MMDG Music Ensemble, has an amazing streak of offering nearly 800 performances, according to organizers of the event.

Alastair Macaulay for The New York Times

In the spring and summer Mark Morris showed four works new to New York, showing a wide range of virtues; the mixture of dance liveliness and formal ceremony in “Festival Dance” is particularly winning. More remarkable yet is how his “Socrates”(2010) now seems a true and luminous masterpiece. Returning to the city as part of the Mostly Mozart Festival here is his finest, most large-spirited work of the past 16 years.

The prolific American choreographer and his dancers have been in Australia only once since his double bill at Christopher Hunt’s 1994 Adelaide Festival.

Now at 59, he’s on the coat tails of those deceased elders of contemporary dance, like Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch, with people calling him a veteran. He’s back with a program of four varied works at the Sydney Opera House, diverse, yes, but most garlanded with joy.

Rod Parke for Seattle Gay News

Michael Upchurch for The Seattle Times

Anyone familiar with choreographer Mark Morris knows he grew up in Seattle. But when Mark Morris Dance Group returns to town next week to perform "Festival Dance" and "Violet Cavern" (the latter with music performed live by jazz trio The Bad Plus), another local connection of the troupe will come into play.

Donald Rosenberg for The Plain Dealer

The repertoire that American choreographer Mark Morris has created for more than 30 years is rich and deep, but it’s possible to see only a fraction of his canon in any given season. Outside New York, the challenges are even greater, especially given the infrequency with which the Mark Morris Dance Group appears in certain cities.

Chris Waddington for The Times-Picayune

Playing to a packed house at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts, Mark Morris Dance Group pulled off a jaw-dropping feat of magic on Saturday. In fact, make that three feats of magic, for this troupe of 18 dancers, a string quartet and a pianist delivered what is likely to be the best night of dance, the best night of classical music, and the best night of theater that New Orleans will see in the 2011-2012 season.

Erin Steele for The Michigan Daily

In the world of modern dance, few choreographers are as widely revered as Mark Morris, whose dance company will perform in Ann Arbor tonight. His widely acclaimed choreography has been performed all over the world, and The Mark Morris Dance Group has collaborated with living legends like dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, designer Isaac Mizrahi, conductor Jane Glover and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.