Mark Morris Dance Group’s ‘The Look of Love’ @ TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND
Dance photos by Jim Coleman
—Ramona Harper
Mark Morris Dance Group
‘The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach”
@ TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND (ATTPAC)
A magical evening of the music and movement, the masters and their masterpieces fully satisfies the pleasure principle in Mark Morris Dance Group’s “The Look of Love: An Evening of Dance to the Music of Burt Bacharach.” In times like these, what the world needs now is a jolt of love—and joy—to lift the spirits, and this splendid program in the lineup of TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND, in association with AT&T Performing Arts Center at the Winspear Opera House, more than fills the playbill.
Mark Morris, the company’s artistic director, choreographer, and conductor, founded the Dance Group in 1980. He is the indefatigable energy behind one of the most successful mainstream contemporary dance companies in the United States.
With headquarters in Brooklyn, Mark Morris’ impact on the dance world has been formidable and he has produced more than 150 works for his company, adding The Music Ensemble in 1996 , a live musical group that accompanies all of his productions, and The Mark Morris Dance Center in 2001, a Brooklyn nexus for community engagement programs.
Morris is a MacArthur Fellowship genius who continues to create works that meld music with movement for a uniquely enjoyable aural-visual experience of the performing arts, where the music is ingrained in the movement.
For Morris, the music always comes first. His creative process demands that he see the dance as he hears the music; the composition is intrinsic to his choreographic inspiration.
In “The Look of Love,” Morris infuses thirteen of some of the greatest hits of the iconic and beloved composer Burt Bacharach (and the heartfelt lyrics of the renowned Hal David) with deceptively simple, light-as-air choreography that leaves you just plain feeling good.
The program’s positive affirmations of togetherness, unity and community are blended in song with an uninterrupted hourlong program of non-stop movement. The beauty of the physical body moving through space, and the emotional heave in the heart that comes from hearing Bacharach’s timeless music, combined with David’s loverly lyrics, are a synergistic masterpiece.
The choreography has a mirthful edge to its romantic overtones, as dancers’ movements mimic the words of the songs such that it feels as if you are hearing the music but seeing the lyrics.
In “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” dancers gaze into the sky as imaginary raindrops gently fall to create puddles for the dancers to gleefully jump and splash, sweeping the arms in a sense of abandoned freedom like a child playing in the rain. Their movement brings to mind Gene Kelly’s unabashed joy in “Singin’ in the Rain” but accented by Bacharach’s charming composition.
“I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” is dramatically performed with hearts clutched in pain and sorrow that sync with David’s storytelling of swearing off love— “at least until tomorrow” —shifting the mood and movement toward hopelessly romantic optimism.
The intertwining of dance and words is tenderly expressed in “Message to Michael,” with dancers outstretching their arms to the heavens in an exhortation to “spread your wings and fly away.” Duos enter and exit, supportively strolling hand-in- hand.
Emotional momentum builds in “Walk on By” as dancers literally walk past one another, stridently criss-crossing toward the four edges of the stage. Strides turn into runs and arms swing to-and-fro—as if in determined effort to flee the agony of unrequited love. The performers run offstage but re-enter the space in hopeful expectation that all is not lost.
In the title song “The Look of Love’ (made famous not only by songstress Dionne Warwick but also Britain’s Dusty Springfield), dancers rapturously move as complement to the lushly romantic lyrics. Sweeping the arms in 360-degree arcs and twirls that end in arms wrapped around the body, the dancers push through the air in grand gestures of feeling that end in emotional expressions of palpable affection.
In much of the choreography, dancers lift one another in support, or in simple forward-lift arabesques with arms exalted in effortless expressions of the lightness of being and the pure joy of movement—smooth, slowly flowing, airy, free, and breathless.
The entire ensemble is onstage for most of the entire production; so much energy is required, and this company of great dancers is up to the task. Add the heavenly music of Burt Bacharach and it’s a perfect pairing for an exceptional evening of pure entertainment.
The MMDG Music Ensemble is an integral part of the “Look of Love” production, with the amazing Broadway performer Marcy Harriell adding depth and beauty with her gorgeous chops as lead vocalist, along with the backup duo of Clinton Curtis and Blair Reinhard. New musical arrangements are by Ethan Iverson with the superb musicians Jonathan Finlayson, Chris McCarthy, Vinnie Sperrazza and Simon Willson on piano, trumpet, bass, and drums.
Adding to the sprightliness and lightness of the work’s atmospherics are costume and production design by fashion magnate Isaac Mizrahi, in jelly-bean colors of bright pink, lemon-lime, and tangerine-orange hues; costumes are simple tunics, shorts and tees, and flowing midi-dresses. Colorful movable chairs and round cushions make for interesting stage business props for the dancers, with lighting designer Nicole Pearce making things pop.
It’s a particular joy to know that Burt Bacharach, who passed away in February 2023 at the age of 94, was in the opening night audience when “The Look of Love” premiered in October 2022. (He was a consultant during its creation.) And it’s also worth quoting Bacharach’s appreciation for Mark Morris’ creative inspiration:
“For many years, I’ve wanted to see my music reimagined in some kind of theatrical production, and not just a jukebox formula of songs, but an original work with its own story and appeal. I’ve found an ideal collaborator in Mark Morris, whose brilliant choreography and deep musicality give songs new meaning and dimension through movement. Like a great melody, his dances evoke an atmosphere and inspire feelings, and I think that’s just what the world needs now.”
WHEN: November 23, 2024
WHERE: Winspear Opera House, Dallas
WEB: attpac.org titas.org markmorrisdancegroup.org
Mark Morris Dance Group: Mica Bernas, Karlie Budge, Domingo Estrada, Jr., Sarah Hamilton, Courtney Lopes, Claudia Mc Donald, Dallas McMurray, Alex Meeth, Brandon Randolph, Christina Sahaida, Billy Smith, Joslin Vezeau, Noah Vinson
