Alley 38 - An interactive theatre experience

Have you heard about Alley 38 yet? It's described as "a theatrical walking expedition through uncharted places," but we didn't fully grasp the idea until we actually went on the walk. Whoa, you guys. This is such a fun performance!

Conceived and produced by Artist's Laboratory Theatre (ALT), Alley 38 is part of the Artosphere Festival. ALT received an Artosphere Partner Grant to help bring the idea to life.

Patrons meet at the corner of Block and Spring street in Fayetteville (free parking at the meters after 5pm), and without giving too much away, are divided into two groups. There is a guide in each group, and you remain with them throughout the evening. Winding through the alleys of downtown Fayetteville, a story develops along the way and you find yourself anxious to find out "What is happening next??"

Here's a map of the area covered in Alley 38. While there is a lot of walking, there is plenty of stopping to rest along the way (sometimes you even get a chair!). There is also a brief (about 10min.) intercession where free drinks and snacks are offered.

Alley 38 runs through Sunday, May 27, and all performances begin at 7:30pm. At only $12/person, this is a perfect way to spend a spring evening discovering art, theatre and Fayetteville!

Alley 38 starting point

We need your help building a city!

Imagine...thousands of cardboard boxes, building assistants and the energy and creativeness of a child. The sky's the limit!

This Saturday, May 19, Polyglot Theatre is bringing their interactive program "We Built This City" to the Walton Arts Center stage for two shows; 11am-1pm & 3pm-5pm. Participants are welcome to come and go during the times that they purchase tickets. Tickets are $5 for kids & adults are FREE!

Children are encouraged to participate and help build cities on the Walton Arts Center stage. Polyglot Theatre provides building assistants to help guide the children through the construction process. They create an infrastructure, tunnels, alleys and more during the building activity. Then (we think this might be the most fun part) the kids get to knock it all down and do it AGAIN!

Just take a look at these photos, and you can see how much fun previous participants have had during "We Built This City."

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

photo by Ludovic des Cognets

Walton Arts Center has been gathering recycled boxes from our facilities as well as others to use for "We Built This City," which is a part of the Arts & Nature Festival, Artosphere.

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 3

Today we're finishing up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater. We have had so much fun getting to know more about this group of fascinating dancers, and we hope you have as well!

Diavolo will be performing two times this weekend; Friday, May 11 at 8pm and Saturday, May 12 at 8pm. As part of our 10x10 Arts Series, tickets to these performances start at only $10! We hope to see you here this weekend!

Photo by Kristi Khans

CaSon MacBride - dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

When referencing Diavolo... I tell them i'm apart of an acrobatic dance company. Similar to cirque du soleil but with a more contemporary dance feel. And then I usually pull out my iPhone and show them our demo video.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Nothing like watching really great classical ballet and smooth and groovin' first nations powwow dancing.  

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Bill Irwin 

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

Jumping from Column to Column.... looks difficult. Though getting into the piece is also difficult ;-)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

If I absolutely couldn't perform... I'd direct or teach. Lead and grow performers. 

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

No breaks but my third day with Diavolo I received 7 stitches just below my knee because of a mishap on Traj (the boat piece). And once while rehearsing a site specific piece with another choreographer I dislocated my ankle.  

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

A teepee. I think it would compliment Diavolo's Dreamcatcher and also bring a cultural element to already great work. There are alot of pieces to a Teepee which would make for great props to make choreography.

The poles, the ropes, the canvas... and then there's the structure itself. The idea of living, dancing, playing on something that is created before your eyes I think would be amazing. Not a structure built before the show off stage behind the curtain; but a structure that the dancers have to discover piece by piece and manifest with an audience. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

My background is in American Indian Dance... I think in order to believe in the supernatural and the magic within everything you have to live in a surreal reality. Sherman Alexie... if you could consider his work surreal would be one. 

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Nature is inspiration, calm, home... you can't exclude yourself from nature. 

And nature is simple, unforgiving, fearless. You can distill anything that happens on stage, the life of a performance, to the simplicity of what is found in nature. When you remember that you can look for inspiration to play any role through how "nature survives".  

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

An aluminum water bottle that I refill as often as is convenient. Turn lights off when I leave (and TV's). Trying to not take advantage of food, resources, and energy while traveling just because someone else is buying. And I use the low flow flush on toilets when I go number 1. 

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Pizza & Yogurt... eaten separately.  

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 2

Yesterday we got to meet Jennifer Huffman, a dancer with Diavolo Dance Theater, and we learned that she thinks ice cream sandwiches are a healthy snack. Wait, you don't think they are? Shhh...don't tell Jennifer!

Today we're going back in to learn more about Shauna Martinez, Rehearsal Director, and Brandon Grimm, another dancer with the company.

Shauna Martinez - Rehearsal Director

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

Acrobatic dance company, flying and flipping off of very large structures similar to Cirque

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Contemporary/ modern

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Sabrina Vasquez

4. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Ultrasound technician or something with exercise science/ massage therapy

5. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Not broken, sprained yes.

6. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

hmmm... the challenge of performing on a revolving field would be interesting.

7. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Jacques is pretty surreal at times... my spectrum of influence is very large.

8. How does nature impact your artistic process?

Weather influences the style or dynamic of my movement. 

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Working with purpose, and finding moments and places of relaxation and rejuvenation. Lots of laughing and great friends!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Love orange juice! Roasted pepper hummus with pita bread

Photo by Kristi Khans

Brandon Grimm - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

We are an acrobatic dance company that uses really large set pieces and structures. We play a lot with shapes within a space and movement patters in, on, and around the structures and stage. We are mostly closely compared to Cirque du Soliel, but on a much smaller scale.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Anything highly synchronized with pattern and formation changes. Cedar Lake's "Violet Kid" does an amazing job at this. I highly recommend it! 

3.Who is your artistic icon?

Coming from a Fashion design background, I'm really inspired by art deco designers such as Erté, as well as works from Alfonse Mucha and the Art Nouvear era.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The entire thing... After being given a video to study my track, of an almost 30 minute piece, it was really confusing to map my character. It became easier once we were in rehearsals, physically on the structure.

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Funny enough, I actually resigned from a high profile fashion design position to pursue my life as a professional dancer. I made it 51 weeks (1 week shy of a year) in that corporate job and realized I wasn't happy sitting in front of a desk wasting 15 years of training and performing as a dancer. So I quit...

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Never while Performing, no... But I did step on a screw (used to secure taps to tap shoes) in the middle of a piece. Luckily those screws are short and the sole in my jazz shoe was thick. No toes were injured...

7. If you can incorporated and object or structure into a performance what would it be and why?

I'd have to say... Paint... But I'd like to do it on large ramp, similar to a photographer's seamless paper, but something we could run up and splash around in. 

8. Diavolo: Fearful Symmetries is described as being inspired by surrealism. Are you influenced by any surrealist artists?

Surrealist artists, not so much. But currently I have an obsession with sculptor Richard McDonald. His workmanship in itself is surreal in the nature that, it's unfathomable how much life, detail, and character he puts into each work. His main focus is on the human form: physical artists and athletes in dance, gymnastics, and circus Arts. And as a dancer and performer, I am always inspired by the human form.

9. How does nature impact your artistic process?

I love nature! My favorite getaway is Alaska. Pristine, untouched terrain, covered in trees, glaciers, waterfall, and animals has always inspired me artistically. Architect, Frank Lloyd Wright is always taking inspiration from surrounding terrain and blending his architecture beautifully. Whether its allowing a natural creek to flow undisturbed though the middle of a house, or building a home directly over a waterfall I aspire to work as seamlessly with nature as Wright. I prefer not to disturb nature; but embrace is beauty and strength for inspiration.

10. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

Sadly, I don't live as sustainably as I would like as it's extremely expensive. I would love to have a fully solar home that relies not on an electric company, but soley on the power of the sun. In the mean time though, I have a reusable plastic Starbucks cup that I get refilled everyday. :-)

11. What is your favorite healthy snack?

Fresh cut mango... 

Thanks Shauna and Brandon! Check back in with us tomorrow as we finish up our Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater just in time for their first show on Friday, May 11! They'll be performing on Saturday, May 12 as well. Tickets to both shows are only $10, and from the looks of these photos it's going to be quite a show!

Q&A with Diavolo Dance Theater: Part 1

This week we have the brilliant Diavolo Dance Theater in our hall. Diavolo means "the day I learned to fly." Isn't that just the most wonderfully magic name you've ever heard? This 10-member dance company is made up of dancers, gymnasts and actors who deliver large-scale interdisciplinary performances that examine the funny and frightening ways individuals behave within their environment.

They will be in-residency for the week traveling to local schools to work with students, performing as part of our Colgate Classroom Series, and even instructing a Masterclass for people ages 14 and up. They will reach over 2,000 individuals in classroom and community settings this week. We are so lucky to have them in Northwest Arkansas!

Photo by Rose Eichenbaum

Diavolo is also part of our 10x10 Arts Series, and you know we love to grill them about the work they're doing so we can share it with you! Read below to find out a little bit more about the members of this interesting group that are spending the week in our community. Today we're talking with Jennifer Huffman, but come back tomorrow for more with some of the other company members!

Jennifer Huffman - Dancer

1. How do you explain what you do to people that have never seen a performance or a photograph of your work?

I scare them. They aren't expecting what they get sometimes, so in a good way I believe it scares them.

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch?

Raw, athletic dancing

3.Who is your artistic icon?

I've never had one. There are many people I look up to for guidance; those that have taught me & continue to teach me.

4. Is there any part of Fearful Symmetries that you thought would be impossible to perform?

The first complete run-through we did, I was soooo exhausted at the end of the first half that I thought there was no way I could do an entire second half. But, I did... :)

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Veterinarian

6. Have you ever broken anything while performing?

Possibly...

7. If you could incorporate an object or structure into a performance, what would it be and why?

I have always enjoyed climbing and playing on anything. I have never been afraid of heights, and love to fly through the air, so anything I can jump off of, do a handstand on, climb, slide, crawl or bounce on would be fun for me!

8. Diavolo is performing during our Artosphere Festival, which focuses on arts, nature & sustainability. How does nature impact your artistic process?

The different seasons put me in different moods, and therefore effect how I work that day, or what I decide to create when I do.

9. Do you have a personal way that you try to live a more sustainable life?

I do what I want to do. Dance to the beat of my own drum, and find something that makes me laugh everyday!

10. What is your favorite healthy snack?

A tie between avocados and ice cream sandwiches. :)

 

Q&A with the Whiffenpoofs of Yale

We are winding down our 2011-12 season, and my oh my how it has just flown by! But, before we welcome the Artosphere Festival to Northwest Arkansas, we've got a few more shows to share with you (yes, Mary Poppins is one of them! Pssssttttt...there's not too many tickets left for that show so you might want to act fast!).

The Whiffenpoofs of Yale will be serenading Northwest Arkansas on Friday, April 6 at the Arend Arts Center in Bentonville. This concert is part of our 10x10 Arts Series, with tickets starting at just $10. Did you know you don't have to subscribe to the series to get that awesome price?

The "Whiffs," as they are affectionately known, are an a capella group of senior Yale men that have been singing the classics for over 100 years. When you've been around that long, you know what you're doing, and these guys are phenomenal. We are thrilled to bring this talented group of young men to our area, and at the low price of $10 no less!

Last week we had the pleasure of doing a short q&a with the Whiffenpoofs' World Tour & Publicity Manager, David Martinez. Wondering where the name 'Whiffenpoofs' came from? Read on to find out!

1. What band/group would you most like to collaborate with?

I think it would actually be really interesting to do a genuine collaboration with our sister group, Whim n' Rhythm. Although we do concerts together throughout the year, it's rare that the Whiffs and Whim sing the same song together, and I think singing with a group of singers as talented as the combined forces of the Whiffs and Whim would be exciting and different.

2. Do all Whiffenpoofs major in music? If not, what are you studying?

Although I am not currently a music major, I thought for about a year that I would try to double major in Political Science and Music, and I took classes with the aim of achieving that goal. Ultimately, though, I decided that I was getting a lot of musical fulfillment singing in an a cappella group as an extracurricular activity. I decided that I wanted to focus academically elsewhere, so now I'm doing Political Science & Economics!

3.What was your reaction when you learned you had been accepted to one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools in the US?  How did you celebrate?

Elation! I applied early action to Yale, so it was the first school that I heard back from. It was such a relief to know that even if all else failed, I would still be going to one of the best schools in the country with an incredible extracurricular scene in music and theater. Once I decided to attend, I couldn't wait. Throughout the summer I devoured all the information I could about Yale, which built up to an incredible first month there.

4. We hear you each have a Whiffenpoof nickname. What is yours and how did you get it? What would Walton Arts Center’s Whifenpoof nickname be?

My nickname is a pretty simple pun: David "Kwik-E" Martinez. It's just a reference to a Simpsons convenience store, I believe. I think the Class of 2011 were a little lazy in coming up with our nicknames!

As for the Walton Arts Center... Perhaps Walton "If you'll not careful, you're gonna break h-" Arts Center, or Walton Arts "Decent and De-" Center, or Walton Arts "Cotillion's Where We'll Pre" Center.

5. What song not currently in the Whiffenpoof repertoire would you like to see added and why?

My a cappella resume is actually a little bit different from that of most of the other guys in the group. I spent my first three years at Yale in a coed group that focused on a broad range of music that included a lot of contemporary pop, so I've always been partial to more upbeat, contemporary music. I'm a big fan of Janelle Monae, so maybe a cover of "Cold War" or "Open Happiness." Maybe some more recent musical theater, although that's often difficult to divorce from the plot of the show and place in the middle of an a cappella set!

6.What is a Whiffenpoof and why is that the name of the a cappella group?

A handsome, intelligent, charming young man who sings in white tie and tails!

In all seriousness, though, I believe the term "Whiffenpoof" was first heard in an operetta around the turn of the 20th century. The operetta was based off of the comic series Little Nemo, and in it there's a scene where three men are sitting around ice fishing. They don't seem to be catching any fish, so they turn to bragging about previous feats. "I've caught a swordfish before!" claims one, while another says he's caught a whale. The third one, not wanting to get shown up, trumps them all. "That's nothing. I've caught a Whiffenpoof." Apparently, a Whiffenpoof is a mystical dragonfish that sings for food and drink.

Well, one of our founding members thought that was a great name, especially since the group at the time was doing exactly that -- singing for food and drink. He proposed "The Whiffenpoofs" and the name stuck. We still sing at that same tavern/bar 103 years later, though most of us are pretty convinced that if they had known they'd be sticking us with that name for a century, they may have reconsidered.

Many thanks to David for taking the time to answer our questions. We hope you'll join us this Friday for a show that's sure to entertain!

Q&A with SFJAZZ Collective

Yesterday you dipped your toe in the pool of the all-star jazz group SFJAZZ Collective. Today, we're taking a dive into the deep end! We like to hit up our incoming 10x10 Arts Series artists with a Q&A to get to know them better before they get here. Here's what SFJAZZ Collective drummer, Eric Harland had to say...

Eric Harland - drums

1. If you could do another tribute show, which artist would you choose and why?

I would personally choose James Taylor... mostly because I love his music and haven't had the opportunity to perform his music or with him. 

2. If you could choose one celebrity to play with, alive or dead, who would you choose?

John Coltrane would be my choice... 

3.What is the one piece of music that you wish you would’ve composed?

The theme to Star Wars...  

4. If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

More financial balance so that the arts can remain an act of "expression" to success and not the act of "mimic" to success...

5. If you were not a performer today, what profession would you have chosen?

Maybe Computer Engineering...  Philosophy...  Winemaking...  can't really choose just one.  

6.You’ve covered some great names (Coltrane, Hancock, Monk and now Stevie Wonder); how do you decide? And, is there anyone that you haven’t done that you would love to?

We decide based on a voting process, about who we agree to be the next honored Artist.  As far as those we haven't played before...  I think everyone has a different outlook on that.  

7. What is your favorite Stevie Wonder song to perform and why?

Ah man...  he has too many great songs to narrow to just a favorite...  but some are "Higher Ground", "Golden Lady", "Superstition"...  and these are mainly do to their great melodies, feel, lyrics...  but wait...  THAT'S ALL OF STEVIE'S SONGS.....   :-)  

8. What song, artist, or genre of music do you secretly like, but are embarrassed to admit?

None...  I'm open to all music.

SFJAZZ Collective will be in Northwest Arkansas this Thursday, March 15 at 7pm. I hope to see you all at the show! Don't have tickets yet? No problem! They're still available and can be purchased here, or by calling the Walton Arts Center box office at 479.443.5600.

SFJAZZ Collective plays Stevie Wonder

SFJAZZ Collective is made up of a group of eight accomplished jazz musicians from around the country. The unique thing about the group is that this collective is not their primary career. The group comes together once a year, chooses a jazz legend to honor, takes the music of that icon and puts together their own compositions.

In years past, SFJAZZ Collective has played the music of Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Thelonius Monk and more. This year they've chosen the incomparable Stevie Wonder.

Take a look at this behind the scenes video of their arrangement of "Visions" together.

It's pretty awesome how this group of all-star jazz musicians work together on SFJAZZ Collective every year. We're very excited to bring them to Northwest Arkansas as part of our 10x10 Arts Series, and tickets start at just $10. We're looking forward to seeing this amazing group live! 

2012-13 Broadway season...unveiled!

On Saturday, March 3, we held an exclusive Broadway subscriber event at Walton Arts Center. We had the incomparable Seth Rudetsky on-hand to help us unveil our 2012-13 Broadway series. Seth is a Broadway insider, Sirius XM Radio host and accomplished pianist. He has interviewed tons of Broadway stars, and has also played piano for shows like Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Ragtime. We were so glad to have him in NWA to help us on such an exciting day!

Here's a small clip from his show; announcing our lineup for next year along with audience reactions to our season:

In case he threw you off with his New York accent, this is a recap of our Broadway series next season:

We will also have these shows hitting our stage next season:

To say we're excited is an understatement. We are over the MOON about our season for 2012-13, and we hope NWA is as well. Every year it just keeps getting bigger and better, and we often wonder "How can we trump this season?" But, we will. *wink*

Early access to these shows is currently only available to our Broadway subscribers, but fear not! If you aren't a subscriber, but would like to become one; call our box office at 479.443.5600 as they are taking pre-orders to become a subscriber. Pre-orders will be filled in the order they were received; so the sooner you call the better! We hope to see lots of smiling faces next season!

Q & A with Mark Morris Dance Group

Yesterday we talked a little about Mark Morris Dance Group and what makes their company unique. Today we've got a Q&A with some of the members and we get to see what makes them unique as individuals!

Grand Duo by Marc Royce 

Mark Morris

1. You’ve produced over 130 dances for the MMDG; where do you draw your inspiration from?  Is it ever difficult to come up with something “new” to say?

All of my work: for my company, for ballet companies, and in opera, comes from music.  Music is the engine that drives me. I don’t know if I’ve ever come up with anything “new”.  I just try not to repeat myself too obviously. 

2. What style of dance is your favorite to watch? Perform?

I love to watch Indian Classical dance. I love folk dance and social dancing, waltz, Polka, Schottisch

3. If you were not a dancer today, what profession would you have chosen?

I would be a singer - a baritone 

4. All this touring…what’s your least favorite form of transportation/traveling?

It’s called an airplane and it is a nightmare.

MMDG Dancer: Lauren Grant

1. What made your first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a dancer?  

It was love at first plié.  Apparently, after my first dance class at three years of age, I asked my parents if I could return the following day.When I attended performances of the ballet at Chicago’s grand Auditorium Theater the magical experience transported me. I also remember being moved in this way when, in 1995, I first saw Mark Morris’ L’Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato at Lincoln Center.  From that performance I knew I wanted to dance in his company.

2. Do you keep with current trending moves ie: The Bernie, The Dougie, The Spongebob etc.

I do not follow much of the current popular trends—be it movies, music, or gaming.  I’m a bit old-fashioned at heart.

3. What are the last 3 songs you listened to on your Ipod?

Most recently I probably listened to Scriabin etudes, Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition of All The Things You Are, and some selections from Adam Guettel’s The Light In The Piazza.

4. All this touring….what’s your least favorite form of transportation/traveling?

I do not enjoy any form of transportation.  Flying has always made me nervous; buses are claustrophobic; and cars make me sick.  Sitting for prolonged periods in all of them promote muscle and joint stiffness—not a pleasant side-effect for a dancer.  I wish I could travel by bicycle to each tour destination!

MMDG Dancer: Samuel Black

1. What venue that you have performed in was your favorite?  And why?

We've performed in some really beautiful theaters around the world, and at some pretty unusual and funky ones in smaller towns.  We've performed at several outdoor theaters, which always add a degree of spontaneity (sun, wind, extra noise...).  I have very fond memories of performing at the New York State Theater in Manhattan, since it was the first theater that I ever performed with MMDG in.

2. As an artist, how do you define success? 

I think it's really satisfying to return to a dance that you haven't worked on in a while.  As dancers, we have very strong muscle memory, so it's often easy to remember how it USED to feel to do a certain dance.  When you have the opportunity to approach that same dance as a more proficient dancer and artist, you can really get a sense for how much you've grown.  Since you already know the steps, you can delve deeper into the experience of performing it.

3. If you were not a dancer today, what profession would you have chosen?

I love food, so I'd consider going into something in the culinary field.  Maybe not as a chef, but as a food writer or restaurant critic.  What's better than being paid to eat delicious food?

4. All this touring….what’s your least favorite form of transportation/traveling?

Until recently, reading on a bus made me carsick, so that made some of our longer bus rides pretty tedious. Since I'd guess that most people don't LOVE taking the bus, we try to make the longer rides fun. Our best idea was the Bus-B-Q, which is a potluck on wheels.

MMDG Dancer: Aaron Loux

1. As an artist, how do you define success?

Success is enjoying what you do and committing yourself to it.  

2. Do you keep with current trending moves ie: The Bernie, The Dougie, The Spongebob etc. 

No. I only recognize the name Spongebob. 

3. What made your first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a dancer?

I danced through the entire summer before my last year of high school. It showed me that dancing, which had previously been a hobby I loved, could be as a profession demanding, intellectually stimulating, and intensely rewarding.

4. All this touring….what’s your least favorite form of transportation/traveling?

Traveling by bus can be pretty uncomfortable. However, it's wonderful when we're driving though a beautiful place, like when we drove down along the California coast from Arcadia to Davis. 

Mark Morris Dance Group

Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) is the next performance in our 10x10 Arts Series. They will perform Thursday, February 2 at 7pm, and with tickets starting at just $10 we hope you won't miss this amazing show! Let's take a quick time-out - did you know that you don't have to purchase tickets to the entire 10x10 series to get the $10 ticket price? Only interested in coming to MMDG? No worries; tickets are still only $10! Ok, glad we got that cleared up.

Grand Duo by Scott Suchman

In anticipation of Mark Morris Dance Group coming to Walton Arts Center, our Programming Assistant, Lydia Seifritz, took time to explain some traits unique to the company and why it's so amazing that they are coming here as part of their tour. Here are some fun facts about MMDG (I like bullet points; makes it easier to digest the information!):

  • Mark Morris is known for his choreography specific to the music; i.e. he starts with the music and choreographs around that rather than choreographing a piece and then choosing music.
  • Live music!! In the 30 years that Mark Morris Dance Group has been around they have always performed to live music. This is very unique for a dance company. And exciting! Great dancing & amazing live music in one performance?? Yes please!
  • The company will be performing three pieces that showcase their evolution over the past 30 years. The most famous piece, Grand Duo, is highly-acclaimed for the juxtaposition of the dancers movement to the classical music.
  • Many of the dancers in MMDG have been in the company for years; some almost 20 years! These 'seasoned' dancers are very unique as most dancers don't have careers that span that length of time.
  • MMDG is very involved in community outreach. In their Brooklyn studio they offer free classes to underprivileged children & adults. They also offer Dance for PD; movement classes for persons with Parkinson's Disease.

They will be conducting one of their Dance for Parkinson's Disease classes while in NWA, and you can sign up here. There will also be a Master Class for dancers age 14 + at the HPER on the University of Arkansas campus. Call our box office at 479.443.5600 to register for the Master Class.

Tune in tomorrow for a Q&A with some of the members of the Mark Morris Dance Group!