Mark Morris Dance Group

Years 7 to 12 dance
Creative Resource Dance
Tags: Disability, Inclusive opportunities, Teacher professional development (PD)

In 2016, a 3-part series featuring the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) was filmed as a collaboration between The Arts Unit and the Sydney Opera House. MMDG dancers (teaching artists) ran sessions with student dancers from the NSW Public Schools Dance Ensembles, Northern Beaches Secondary College, Mackellar Girls Campus, Westfield Sports High School and the Learning Support Unit at James Busby High School. 

This series provides insights into:

  • contemporary training techniques used by MMDG
  • creative movement exercises based on choreographic elements to use in the classroom
  • training and creative movement generation for dance students with intellectual disability.
Contacts
The dance team
The Arts Unit
dance.artsunit@det.nsw.edu.au
0434 567 414
A dance class with teacher and students in a deep second plie with arms above head
Downloads
MMDG 1 Contemporary training techniques (DOCX 115.35 KB)
MMDG 2 Choreographic elements to use in the classroom (DOCX 204.57 KB)
MMDG 3 Approaches for dance students with intellectual disability (DOCX 192.53 KB)
Links

About the Mark Morris Dance Group

The Mark Morris Dance Group was founded in New York City in 1980 by artistic director and choreographer Mark Morris. Live music and community engagement are vital components of the dance group, which has toured with its own musicians, the MMDG Music Ensemble, since 1996. Through Access/MMDG programming, the dance group provides educational opportunities in dance and music to people of all ages and abilities while on tour internationally and at home at the Mark Morris Dance Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

The mission of the Mark Morris Dance Group is to develop, promote, and sustain dance, music, and opera productions by Mark Morris and to serve as a cultural resource to engage and enrich the community. Propelled by core values of community, access, excellence, and creativity, MMDG is committed to ongoing work on inclusion, equity and diversity to ensure its programs are welcoming and accessible to all.

Profiles

    Contemporary training techniques

    Duration: 30:23

    Gather insights into the contemporary training techniques used by the Mark Morris Dance Group.

    Teaching artists: Leslie Garrison and Billy Smith
    Student dancers: NSW Public Schools Dance Ensembles, Northern Beaches Secondary College, Mackellar Girls Campus and Westfield Sports High School

    MMDG 1 Contemporary training techniques (DOCX 115.35 KB)
    Video transcript – Contemporary training techniques

    Choreographic elements to use in the classroom

    Duration: 23:57

    Discover what it means to fulfil a choreographer’s role, how to communicate creative ideas clearly and structuring those ideas for cohesion.

    Teaching artists: Leslie Garrison and Billy Smith
    Student dancers: NSW Public Schools Dance Ensembles, Northern Beaches Secondary College, Mackellar Girls Campus and Westfield Sports High School

    MMDG 2 Choreographic elements to use in the classroom (DOCX 204.57 KB)
    Video transcript – Choreographic elements to use in the classroom

    Approaches for dance students with intellectual disability

    Duration: 32:16

    Explore approaches to training and creative movement generation for dance students with intellectual disability.

    Teaching artists: Sam Black and Chelsea Acree
    Student dancers: Learning Support Unit at James Busby High School

    MMDG 3 Approaches for dance students with intellectual disability (DOCX 192.53 KB)
    Video transcript – Approaches for dance students with intellectual disability