Bryant Park Picnic Performances: Contemporary Dance Series – Mark Morris Dance Group, Blacks in Ballet, Reed Luplau
Founded in New York City in 1980 by artistic director and choreographer Mark Morris, the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) has been called “the preeminent modern dance organization of our time” (Yo-Yo Ma), its members receiving “highest praise for their technical aplomb, their musicality, and their sheer human authenticity.” (Bloomberg News). Live music and community engagement are vital components of the Dance Group, which has toured with its own musicians, the Music Ensemble, since 1996. 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 Center in Brooklyn, NY. For their Bryant Park performance, the company will perform “Gloria,” a work for 10 dancers, set to Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major.
Blacks in Ballet (BIB) was created from the initiative of Brazilian dancers Ingrid Silva, Ruan Galdino and Fábio Mariano. With the purpose of discovering, disseminating and valuing beautiful black bodies in dance, they created the platform on social media to reaffirm that black classical dancers exist. BIB elevates examples of black dance professionals who were references in the history of dance, highlighting those important names, as well as current dancers and future talents. There are many black dancers from different nationalities with beautiful stories that can inspire many other people. The aim of the founding trio is to make more people aware of the success stories and normalize diversity in the dance world.
Reed Luplau was born in Perth, Australia, and started dancing at 18 months at his mother’s studio, Jody Marshall Dance Company. Before graduating from The Australian Ballet School, Luplau was invited by then Artistic Directors Graeme Murphy & Janet Vernon to join the Sydney Dance Company (SDC), where he performed and choreographed for five years. Since relocating to New York City, Luplau has performed for Stephen Petronio Company, Aszure Barton & Artists, and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Luplau’s theater credits include the original Broadway casts of both Moulin Rouge! The Musical and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, among others. Luplau’s film and television work include the role of Theo in Alan Brown’s Five Dances, HALSTON, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Fosse/Verdon, and more.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America is a free outdoor festival (May 31 – September 13) that welcomes all New Yorkers to experience the city’s vibrant arts and culture. The series provides a platform for extraordinary artists and serves as a vital outdoor venue for a wide array of New York’s cultural institutions. To find out more, visit https://bryantpark.org/activities/picnic-performances
