The Mark Morris Dance Group makes a welcome return to Israel from February 2 – 6, 2016 with a diverse program that spans a range of the choreographer’s works from the 1990s to a new work that premiered in June 2015.
Mark Morris is known for his choreography, excellent dancers, and the musicality of his works. All Mark Morris Dance Group performances are accompanied by live music, a memorable experience for dance and music lovers. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Morris before his company’s performance in Israel in 2009, and enjoyed hearing his perspective on the importance of live music:
“The whole point is that everybody’s there in the room doing it at that moment. Recorded music is recorded music it already happened once and now it’s being played again, and I like a piece played the first time. Why would you want to reproduce something identically, that’s what movies are for.”
A recipient of the Scripps Award for lifetime achievement in 2007, Mark Morris began his career as a dancer, working with Laura Dean, Elliot Feld, Hannah Kahn, Lar Lubovitch and the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble. Mark Morris formed his own company in 1980 and from 1988 – 1991 the company resided at the Théatre Royal de la Monnaie as the national dance company of Belgium. In 1990 he founded the White Oak Dance Project together with Mikhail Baryshnikov, creating a vehicle for expression for dancers over 40. In 1991 he was selected a fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, and he is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2001 the Mark Morris Dance Center was established in Brooklyn, more than a home for the dance company, it provides outreach programs for local children, as well as dance school for students of all ages. The company tours extensively, both in the US and internationally.
The company will present two different programs, with 17 dancers and several music ensembles.
Program A:
Falling Down the Stairs – A work for 14 dancers created in 1987, with costumes by Isaac Mizrahi. Music: J. S. Bach, Third Suite for solo cello.
Cargo – A work for 7 dancers, 2005. Music: Darius Milhaud, La création du monde, Op. 58.
Three Preludes – A solo work that was performed by Mark Morris in 1992, costume design by Isaac Mizrahi. Music: Preludes for piano by George Gershwin.
Festival Dance – A work for 12 dancers from 2011. Music: Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Piano Trio in E Major, Op. 83
Performances will take place: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 20:00; Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 20:00; Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 16:00.
Program B:
Pacific – A work for 7 dancers from 1995. Music: Lou Harrison–Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano, third and fourth episodes.
Falling Down the Stairs – A work for 14 dancers created in 1987, with costumes by Isaac Mizrahi. Music: J. S. Bach, Third Suite for solo cello.
Silhouettes – A work for two dancers from 1999. Music: Richard Cumming, Silhouettes–Five Pieces for Piano.
The – A new dance which premiered in June, 2015. A work for 16 dancers. Music: Johann Sebastian Bach arr. for piano four hands by Max Reger– Brandenburg Concerto No.1 in F Major, BWV 1046.
Performances will take place: Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 20:00; Friday, February 5, 2016 at 13:00; Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 21:00.
Ticket prices range from 189 NIS – 339 NIS, and may be purchased via The Israeli Opera website.
