dance
All in a Day's Work
Mark Morris program celebrates double anniversary
by-Rebecca Ragain
uring the past 25 years, Seattle native
Mark Morris has built an artistic empire.
D
The 49-year-old is hailed as the most
significant choreographer since George
Balanchine. He is regularly mentioned in
the same breath as Martha Graham, Merce
Cunningham and Paul Taylor.
He has created works for the American Ballet
Theatre, Boston Ballet, New York City Opera and
English National Opera. His company, Mark
Morris Dance Group, performs an average of 90
shows each year in cities across the world.
He has his own building in Brooklyn, N.Y.,
called the Mark Morris Dance Center. Several sto­
ries tall, this .headquarters houses a successful dance
school, three fully equipped dance studios and, a
small theater.
When asked how he oversees it all, Morris’
answer is indirect but simple: It’s his job.
“It’s a giant job, of course, but it’s what I do,” he
says. “I’m not doing this at gunpoint. It’s my pleas­
ure. It’s my life."
This month, Morris’ job description includes a
doubly distinguished Portland performance. In
addition to being pprt of his company’s 25th
anniversary tour, the performance also kicks off
Portland’s Month of Mozart.
When 11 local arts organizations arranged a cel­
ebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the com­
poser’s birth, White Bird invited Morris to present a
work set to Mozart. It seemed apropos, given that
Morris has been called the Mozart of modem dance.
But surprisingly, there were no Mozart pieces in
his current repertoire. So White Bird commis­
sioned Morris to revive an older work called Rondo.
When Morris originally choreographed the
solo, he danced it personally. For the Portland per­
Mark Morris (inset) is coming to town as part of his
formance, Rondo will be performed by Amber
Portland's Month of Mozart.
Darragh, a dancer who grew up in Newport. Other
than Darragh and Morris, only one other dancer
have human beings,” declares Morris. "Music is
has ever learned the piece.
meant to be played live.”
Though Darragh will perform Rondo,
This dedication to live music goes hand in
Portlanders will still be treated to watching Morris
hand with Morris’ innate musicality. Jaffe says
perform. He will dance From Old Seville, which he
Morris is considered one of today’s most musical
describes as “a little Spanish piece.”
choreographers. And Boston Globe critic Richard
“Mark doesn’t dance much anymore, and he is
Dyer once wrote that Morris, like Balanchine,
dancing on our program,” says White Bird cb-
“makes music visible.”
founder Walter Jaffe. “Whenever Mark dances, it’s
Jaffe adds that Morris’ choreography generally
always fun to watch."
shows a great sense of humor and that audiences
The program also includes All Fours, set to the
find his work accessible. “People always leave on a
music of Bela Bartók, and V, which is a 55-minute,
big high after they see his performances.... The
full company piece set to a quintet by Robert
overall experience is very positive and upbeat.”
Schumann. Though V is a relatively new work—it
Once the 25th anniversary tour is finished,
premiered in 2001—Jaffe says it is already consid­ what will Morris do next? What are the goals of
ered a masterpiece.
someone who is so well admired that he has been
The entire program features live music by the
the subject of a biography and received honorary
Mark Morris Dance Group Music Ensemble, which
degrees from Juilliard and the Boston Conservatory
was formed in 1996 when the company made the
of Music?
commitment to perform only with live music.
Morris has little interest in pontificating on
“There’s no reason to use a recording when you
past achievements. Likewise, he does not compare
keeping an
eye on local
growers n'
showers?
company's 25th anniversary tour and to kick off
his old work to his new. Instead, he says: “It
changes as one changes. You don’t make the same
dance over and over again.”
As for the future, Morris plans to keep “making
up" dances. “I’m perfectly fine with what I’m doing,
and I want to do more of it. I’m not looking to do
something else.” ©
M ark M orris D ance G roup performs 7:30 p.m.
April 19 at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall,
1037 S.W. Broadway. Tickets are $ 19-$43 from
503-790-2787.
Morris also joins White Bird co-founder Paul King and
Gotham Building Tavern head chef Tommy Habetz for
COOKING WITH THE CHOREOGRAPHERS. The
culinary fund-raiser takes place 6:30 p.m. April 18 at
2240 N. Interstate Ave. Tickets are $150.
Portland free-lance writer REBECCA R again enjoys
both watching and writing about dance. Write her at
rebeccaragain@yahoo. com.
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