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 partnership 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
Email
dance.artsunit@det.nsw.edu.au
Phone
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

    Related programs

    Dance

    Program Dance
    Kindergarten to Year 12 students and teachers
    Engages students and teachers with dance practice to build skills, engage, teach and inspire students.

    Dance ensembles

    Program Dance
    Years 4 to 12
    Expert dance tuition and opportunities to perform in events such as the State Dance Festival and Schools Spectacular.

    Dance workshops for students with disability

    Program Dance
    Years 3 to 12 students with a disability and their teachers
    These workshops give students with a disability the opportunity to explore, discover and engage in dance. Students and staff learn dances together in a fun and inclusive environment.

    Related resources

    Dance masterclass with Hofesh Shechter Company

    Creative Teachers Dance
    Teachers
    Devised to support dance teachers in their teaching of dance students in secondary schools particularly in Years 9 to 11. 

    Dancing with D'Arts

    Creative Resource Dance
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    Virginia Ferris
    Teachers
    Dancing with D’Arts is a series of video masterclasses with specialist dance teachers and is designed to assist you in creating an inclusive dance program in your school.

    Contemporary choreography

    Art Bites Dance
    Intermediate / advanced dance
    A dive into creative contemporary dance.