Specialties
MMDG's mission is to develop, promote, and sustain dance, music and opera productions by Mark Morris, and serve as a cultural resource to engage and enrich the community. The Mark Morris Dance Center in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, is not only the home of the Mark Morris Dance Group, but also houses rehearsal and rental space for the community, programs for children and seniors, and dance classes for students of all ages and experience.
History
Established in 1980.
MMDG's touring schedule steadily expanded since its first performance in NYC and in 1986 it made its first national television program for PBS's Dance in America. In 1988, MMDG spent 3 years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie as the national dance company of Belgium. The company returned to the US in 1991 as one of the world's leading dance companies.
MMDG is noted for its commitment to live music, a feature of every performance on its full international touring schedule since 1996. Film and television projects also include Dido and Aeneas, The Hard Nut, and two documentaries for the UK's South Bank Show.
With the Mark Morris Dance Center, MMDG has become an active participant in the cultural life of its community. Through its many education and community programs, MMDG has woven itself into the fabric of its Brooklyn neighborhood and has emerged as a dynamic and positive force in the growth of the community.
Meet the Business Owner: Mark M.
Mark Morris formed the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1980; was Director of Dance at La Monnaie, Brussels (1988-1991); and founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1990. He has choreographed works for San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Boston Ballet, among others. Opera credits include directing and choreographing productions for The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, English National Opera, and Royal Opera, London. Mr. Morris has received 8 honorary doctorates to date. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society, and the subject of a biography by Joan Acocella (Farrar, Straus & Giroux).