Mark Morris

Cutting edge pioneer Mark Morris always knew he wanted to dance. But what is it that prepared him to dance with trucks in dresses?

Believe it or not, this guy has classical roots.

"Dancing is hard work and I get tired. It is both satisfying and frustrating to practice moves every day until you can do them smoothly and consistently."
Mark Morris

Multimedia: Mark Morris Dances

Arts Spotlight: Mark Morris

The Road Taken:
Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky

Teacher Resources

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Considering a career in Dance...

The Mark Morris Dance Group

What were you like as a teenager?
I was tall and thin and pale. I took extra credit courses in high school, in order to graduate a year early.

I was studying dance very seriously. I sang in the chorus and read a lot. I talked too much and made a lot of jokes.

How did you know you wanted to be a dancer?
I think all kids like to dance. Skipping is more fun than walking. My parents took me to see concerts of music and dancing. I saw a Spanish dance performance when I was about eight years old, and asked to study.

From being exposed to various kinds of dancing I developed a life-long interest in them: Folk dance, classical ballet, modern dance, everything I saw. Since I started so young, I was hooked right away and knew that dancing was exactly what I wanted to do.

What is the hardest part about being a dancer?
Dancing is hard work and I get tired. It is both satisfying and frustrating to practice moves every day until you can do them smoothly and consistently.

What were the most important dance skills you had to learn?
I had to work hard to master coordination and accurate rhythm. I love music, so it was a serious pleasure to learn more about it.

Why did you choose modern dance rather than ballet or another more traditional dance form?
I work in what is called modern dance because it is a very inclusive medium. I am very devoted to classical ballet and all sorts of other dance forms. I prefer to just call what I do dancing.

The rules of composition and performance are totally up to me and my company, the Mark Morris Dance Group. I really just want to put on a good show.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?
The part of my job I like best is working on new dances; making up what the dancers do and watching and adjusting until it is just what I want.

The hardest part is knowing exactly when a particular dance is really, logically complete and ready to be performed for an audience. I get very tired of flying all over the world. I like to be in different cities, but I don't really like getting to them.

How long does it take to create a dance piece?
All of my choreography is based on music. When I find an appropriate piece of music, I spend a lot of time listening, studying the score and thinking before I begin to make up the steps for the dancers to do. I usually spend 6-8 weeks, 5 or 6 days a week, 3-5 hours a day in choreographing a 20-30 minute piece.

The part of my job I like best is working on new dances; making up what the dancers do and watching and adjusting until it is just what I want. The hardest part is knowing exactly when a particular dance is really, logically complete and ready to be performed for an audience. I get very tired of flying all over the world. I like to be in different cities, but I don't really like getting to them.

What advice would you give to teens considering in the performing arts?
My advice for everyone is: Read a lot, learn music, use your imagination, work hard, look around you, learn from what you don't like as well as what you do like. Have fun.

-- interview conducted March 2001