Mark Morris

Mark Morris (born: August 29, 1956) is an American modern dancer and choreographer whose work is acclaimed for its craftsmanship, ingenuity, humor, and at times eclectic musical accompaniments. Morris is popular among dance aficionados as well as mainstream audiences.

Related Topics:
August 29 - 1956 - American - Modern dance - Choreographer

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Morris grew up an artistic family; his father taught him how to read music and his mother introduced him to Balkan folk dance, and ballet. In the early years of his career, he performed with Lar Lubovitch, Hannah Kahn, Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble.

Related Topics:
Balkan folk dance - Ballet

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Morris subsequently moved to New York, where he established his own company, the Mark Morris Dance Group, which debuted in 1980. From 1988 to 1991, it was the resident company the Théâtre de La Monnaie in Brussels.

Related Topics:
New York - 1980 - 1988 - 1991 - La Monnaie - Brussels

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In 1990, Morris and Mikhail Baryshnikov established the White Oak Dance Project, a group formed to choreograph and perform new dance.

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Since 1994, Morris has created four works on the San Francisco Ballet. He also received commissions from such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet. He has worked extensively in opera, directing and choreographing productions for the New York City Opera, English National Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Related Topics:
San Francisco Ballet - American Ballet Theatre - Boston Ballet - Paris Opera Ballet - New York City Opera - English National Opera - Royal Opera House - Covent Garden

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Notable works of Morris include The Hard Nut (1991), a campy version of The Nutcracker set in the 1960s, L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, ed Il Moderato (1988), Dido and Aeneas (1989), The Office (1995), Greek to Me (2000), a dance version of the Virgil Thomson?Gertrude Stein opera Four Saints in Three Acts (2001), the ballet The Garden (2001), and the modern dance pieces V (2002) and All Fours (2004)

Related Topics:
The Nutcracker - Virgil Thomson - Gertrude Stein

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Morris is the subject of a biography, Mark Morris (1993), by dance critic Joan Acocella. In 2001, Morris published L?Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato: A Celebration, a volume of photographs and critical essays.

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In 2001 his company moved into permanent studios in Brooklyn.

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