Mark Morris Celebrates 30 Years of Dance

The legendary choreographer Mark Morris is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of his center on Lafayette Avenue by premiering three new performances — including a never-before-seen dance piece — this weekend and next.

Two of the pieces, “The Muir” and “Petrichor” will be performed for the first time in New York. “Festival Dance” will be performed for the first time anywhere.

The three pieces will continue Morris’ longstanding preference for live music — indeed, his dance group has performed over 1,500 consecutive times accompanied by musicians.

“The dancers and musicians are all playing on the same team. There is no separation between music and dance. Everyone performing is in a high state of alertness and responding spontaneously to one another,” Morris said.

The revered dancer, who is known for his heavy-set figure and technical mastery, added that the music was as key to the artistic experience as the dancing itself.

“Like the performers, the audience is fully alive,” Morris said. “The performance is specifically for you personally and will never be exactly repeated.”

The Mark Morris Dance Center is considered as important a dance institution as its neighbor across the street, BAM, is to film and theater.

Morris has been hailed for bringing dance to the masses, and he encouraged novices to attend the celebration of his center’s 30-year milestone.

“You’ll see something you've never experienced before,” he said. “Wonderful music beautifully played and human beings dancing marvelously.”

Mark Morris Dance Group performs at Mark Morris Dance Center at 3 Lafayette Avenue at Rockwell Place on March 17–20 and March 24 –27. Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets $50. Call (866) 811-4111 for info.