Mark Morris Dance Group - 2020 Annual Report

0 2 T R 0 O 2 REP L A U N N A

It is humbling to recognize all of the amazing work that was accomplished in FY 2020, a period that seems endless and yet was just one year. I’m reminded who we are and what we all can do on our return to the stage, the studio, the classroom, the community— and yes, to the internet (the programs we launched during this crisis will continue!)

I am grateful that we had nearly a full year of extraordinary performance, education and community engagement, and that we had the creativity, talent, and grit to turn the challenges of the pandemic into new and joyful ways to connect.

Your continued support through it all has made the difference. We dance on with you and because of you. Thank you.

Mark Morris

MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Statistics

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Letter from Mark Morris

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V

Pursuing Excellence Celebrating & Supporting Community Cultivating Creativity

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24 26 28 29

Advancing Access Financial Results Support For Programs Legacy Giving

Letter from the Board Chair & Executive Director

f o r a e Y e c A n e i l i s e R

“The exuberant dancers are a fascinating bunch, each one so individual yet meshing together so well.

A testament, if you will, to Morris’ genius.”

-The Times (UK) Premiere of Dance On! An Evening with the Mark Morris Dance Group, featuring new “videodances”

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Launch of Dance On! Video Vault, curated collections from the MMDG archive

Launch of Digital Access classes in English and Spanish as well as programs for all ages and abilities worldwide

Continued investment in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) education and training

39 Performances (pre-Covid)

8,170 subsidized community studio hours for artists and nonprofits (pre-Covid)

80,000 people reached through performances worldwide

36,000 people reached through online classes for children, teens, and adults

1,800 unique Dance for PD participants on Zoom

2 works by Mark Morris added to the 195+ repertory

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g n i u s r e Pu c n e l l e c x E

MMDG 2020Eros.

ANNUAL REPORT Arrows.

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Onstage, offstage, and online

the Mark Morris Dance Group continued to bring the joy of dance with live music to a global community through performances of selections from Mark Morris’s vast repertory and education and community engagement programs for people of all ages and abilities.

Our presenting partners and audiences nationwide played an ever-critical role in supporting performances and extensive engagement activities to communities before Covid-19. We are grateful to our fans and longstanding partners in cities across the nation: Cal Performances in Berkeley; Krannert Center for the

MMDG 2019 ANNUAL REPORT7 MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Empire Garden

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Performing Arts in ChampaignUrbana; Seattle Theater Group; and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Additional touring highlights included performances at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, La Jolla Music Society, and The Metropolitan Opera.

LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIPS

PURSUING EXCELLENCE

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Morris premiered Sport, set to one of Erik Satie’s finest works, “Sports et Divertissements” for piano, featuring 12 dancers, in July at Lincoln Center as part of the Mostly Mozart

Sport

Festival. In August, Morris premiered Arrows. Eros. at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, CA during the La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest.

PREMIERES ON-STAGE

PURSUING EXCELLENCE

Committed to advancing the field through trainings, workshops, masterclasses and more, we formally launched our Teaching Artist Training Program and Summer Session this year. We also continued our

Teaching Artist Summer Seminar

Summer Intensive, providing opportunities to learn Morris’ repertory, along with regular professional development for Teaching Artist Faculty and Dance for PD® Teacher Training and Certification.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PURSUING EXCELLENCE

To keep our community inspired and connected during isolation we developed our first-ever livestreamed / ondemand artistic programming.

Morris premiered four new

Lonely Waltz

videodances - Lonely Waltz, Anger Dance, Lonely Tango, and Sunshine - to a global online audience during “Dance On! An Evening with the Mark Morris Dance Group.”

ARTISTIC INNOVATION ONLINE PURSUING EXCELLENCE

& y g t i n i n t a u r m b e m o Cel C g n i t d r n o o p y e p B u d S n a n ly k o o r in B

MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT Dance with MMDG

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In the fall of 2019, we celebrated the opening of The Judith R. and Alan H. Fishman Space, a significant expansion, adding two new columnfree studios to the existing seven-studio Dance Center.

We dedicated our ground-

floor studio to our Parkinson’s community, providing much improved access to studio and meeting space. We also continued to invest in the future of the arts through continued expansion of in-person and then digital programs.

FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Various repertory works

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY MMDG 2019 ANNUAL REPORT Dance for PD12®

Prior to the crisis, MMDG’s programs for youth through the School and 40 community partners were flourishing.

Once the pandemic struck, we developed online programs for students in the School and launched our first-ever Google Sites. We launched an online

MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 13 Dance, Music, and Literacy

Program

version of our flagship education program “Dance, Music, and Literacy” based on Mark Morris’ L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, to support students across NYC who rely on MMDG programming for inspiring, inclusive, and accessible arts engagement.

THE SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY PROGRAMS CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Prior to closures, our Subsidized Rehearsal Space program and our SharedSpace events continued to provide vital creation space and

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opportunities for NYC choreographers of all genres to share new work through informal performance and receive feedback from peers.

ARTIST REHEARSAL SPACE SUBSIDIES CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Participants in the SharedSpace program.

To support front line and essential workers with vital wellness resources, MMDG created a series of short, nurturing video movement

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sessions for those who are required to work under stressful, traumatic, and unforgiving conditions.

FRONT LINE MOVES SUPPORTING COMMUNITY

FREE MEAL DISTRIBUTION AT THE MARK MORRIS DANCE CENTER SUPPORTING COMMUNITY

To support New York City residents facing food insecurity, we partnered with World Central Kitchen and Dance/NYC to provide volunteer staffing and distribute 6,000 free meals to people in need.

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g n i t a v i t l y u t i C v i t a Cre

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Choreographing and Rehearsing on Zoom Led by Morris’ commitment to creating new work, our dedicated artists, administrators, and educators met the challenge of the lockdown and social distancing by forging new pathways online. Our offices and studios remain remote until public health measures enable safe on-site work.

Beginning In 2017, we invested creative energy in the future of the company to develop a plan for Mark Morris’ legacy – the Mark Morris Dance Center, The School and Community Engagement Programs, and his vast repertory of work – with a goal of ensuring these offerings can continue to provide a resource for our community for decades to come.

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In fiscal year 2020, this work included continued data and documentation for the Mark Morris Archive of 199 works. We also recorded interviews with dancers and filmed the first in the Dance for the Future series – Morris’ groundbreaking initiative to create a reserve of new works to premiere at such time that he is no longer choreographing – to enable successful recreation in the future.

DANCES FOR THE FUTURE

CULTIVATING CREATIVITY

Various repertory works

Our Arts Immersion program provided opportunities for 19 high school students to explore careers in dance production and arts administration in a new hyper-virtual landscape.

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We also graduated our firstever cohort of four Assistant Teaching Artist Trainees, including one participant who began as an Arts Immersion Fellow in 2015.

CAREER TRAINING CULTIVATING CREATIVITY

g n i c n a v s d s e A c c A

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For most of the year, MMDG continued its robust onsite calendar of classes and workshops. Once shelterin-place occurred, company members and Dance Center

MMDG 2020 perform ANNUAL REPORT 21 Dancers for peers

faculty played a vital role in keeping our community moving and connected, teaching classes in myriad genres online from their homes.

in our SharedSpace program.

EDUCATION CLASSES ONLINE

ADVANCING ACCESS

Increased digital programming became an ever more critical lifeline for our global Parkinson’s community, which already experiences disease-related isolation and anxiety. In addition to adding

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programs like Dance by Phone, meditation, and seated yoga, we offered free daily dance, singing and movement classes and checked in on participants regularly by telephone.

DANCE FOR PD ®

ADVANCING ACCESS

Tap for PD Dance Class

In the spring, we launched our first-ever curated collections from the Mark Morris Dance Group Archive. The first episode included works from the company’s early years -

MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Dad’s Charts (1980), Strict Songs (1987), and Canonic 3/4 Studies (1982) - with rare recordings of Morris in performance to inspire audiences and artists alike.

DANCE ON! VIDEO VAULT ADVANCING ACCESS

Canonic ¾ Studies

Dad’s Charts

My Party

Wonderland

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Strict Songs

FINANCIAL RESULTS 2020 ANNUAL REPORT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES July 1 2019 - June 30, 2020 REVENUE

2019

2020

Earned

$5,978,104

$4,069,006

Dance Group and Music Ensemble

$3,426,012

$1,597,905

Education and Community Programs

$2,552,092

$2,471,101

$3,615,970

$4,202,119

Individual

$1,574,975

$2,319,627

Foundation

$1,300,475

$1,445,315

Government

$311,640

$291,829

Corporate* (This includes in-kind donations)

$428,880

$145,348

Investment Return

$26,666

$15,530

Total Revenue

$9,620,740

$8,286,655

OPERATING EXPENSES

2019

2020

Program Services

$8,654,286

$7,129,002

Dance Group and Music Ensemble

$5,246,217

$3,818,298

Education and Community Programs

$3,408,069

$3,310,704

$1,036,124

$739,959

Management/General

$538,910

$345,964

Fundraising

$497,214

$393,995

Operating Expenses Total

$9,690,410

$7,868,961

Results from Operations

$ (69,670)

$417,694

Contributed

Support Services

PURSUING EXCELLENCE MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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FY20 REVENUE

49% Earned

51% Contributed

FY20 EXPENSES

91% Program

9% Support

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION as of June 30, 2020 ASSETS

2019

2020

Cash and cash equivalents

$807,551

$2,551,075

Accounts receivable

$200,148

$99,775

Pledges receivable

$5,343,561

$4,556,741

Prepaid expenses

$172,872

$88,530

Investments

$2,175,562

$2,245,305

Other assets

$78,952

$96,959

Restricted investments

$550,000

$550,000

Property ad equipment, net

$8,569,581

$8,491,359

Total Assets

$17,898,227

$18,679,744

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

2019

2020

Accounts payable & accrued expenses

$365,621

$355,538

Deferred revenue

$457,689

$306,190

Line of credit

-

$500,000

Payroll Protection Program

-

$1,139,000

$823,310

$2,300,728

$11,072,656

$11,039,107

Mark Morris Dance Center

$8,569,581

$8,491,359

Board designated

$2,242,234

$1,552,336

Undesignated

$260,841

$995,412

Temporary restricted

$5,452,261

$4,789,909

Permanently restricted

$550,000

$550,000

$17,074,917

$16,379,016

$17,898,227

$18,679,744

Liabilities

Total Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted

Total Net Assets Total Liabilities and Net Assets MMDG 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

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Our organization performed well in the first three quarters of the year. However, our fourth quarter was impacted significantly by the pandemic, causing multi-million dollar decreases in earned revenue, office and studio operation suspensions, and extremely difficult decisions to lay off dedicated faculty and staff. Our survival has been possible with great thanks to the unprecedented ingenuity of our staff in developing compelling online programming and the extraordinary generosity of individuals and institutions contributing to our Dance On! Recovery Fund.

These factors, combined with reduced expenses, resulted in a surplus to be used towards the fiscal year 2021 deficit, currently projected as a full year of reduced operations and touring.

The financial losses from the pandemic have carved a permanent shift in our economic model, underscoring our reliance on contributed revenue as we transition to post-pandemic operations.

SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS STAFF Artistic Director Mark Morris Executive Director Nancy Umanoff DANCERS Mica Bernas, Karlie Budge, Brandon Cournay, Domingo Estrada, Jr., Lesley Garrison, Lauren Grant, Sarah Haarmann, Deepa Liegel (Through 1/20), Aaron Loux, Laurel Lynch, Matthew McLaughlin, Dallas McMurray, Minga Prather (Through 1/20), Brandon Randolph, Nicole Sabella, Christina Sahaida, Billy Smith, Noah Vinson, Jammie Walker, Malik Williams PRODUCTION Director of Technical Production Johan Henckens Lighting Supervisor Nick Kolin Audio Supervisor Rory Murphy Costume Coordinator Stephanie Sleeper COMPANY Company Manager Jen Rossi Assistant Company Manager Julia Weber Music Director Colin Fowler Rehearsal Director Sam Black ADMINISTRATION Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Fox General Manager Geoff Chang IT Director Aleksandr Kanevskiy Finance Manager Natalia Kurylak Budget Manager Chris Pritchard Payroll Manager / Benefits Administrator Rebecca Hunt Finance Assistant Emily Rogers (Through 10/19) / Jamaelya Hines (Through 1/20) Assistant to the Executive Director Stephanie Saywell

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DEVELOPMENT Director of Development Michelle Amador Manager of Individual Giving David Gracia Grants Coordinator Anne Marie Rubin (Through 10/19) / Haley Mason Andres Database and Research Administrator Aidan Heck Membership Assistant Zubaydah Bashir MARKETING Director of Marketing Karyn LeSuer (Through 4/20) / Laura Giannatempo Web & Social Media Manager Joleen Richards Marketing & Communications Associate Nissa Heman Content & Editorial Coordinator Trevor Izzo ARCHIVES Archive Project Manager Stephanie Neel Archive Project Metadata & Cataloging Coordinator Regina Carra Archive Digitization Assistant Kareem Woods EDUCATION Director of Education Sarah Marcus School Director Rachel Roberge Community Programs Director Alexandra Cook Adult Programs, Assistant Manager Jessica Pearson School Administrator Jamia Jordan (through 1/20) / Lily Khan Education Programs Assistant Alexandria Ryahl Community Education Liaison Calvin Rollins III Student Company Director Janelle Barry

Dance for PD® Program Director David Leventhal Dance for PD® Programs & Engagement Manager Maria Portman Kelly Outreach Director Eva Nichols Dance for PD® Programs Assistant Amy Bauman Dance for PD® Programs Administrator Natasha Frater DANCE CENTER OPERATIONS Director of Events & Venue Operations Elise Gaugert Director of Facilities & Capital Projects Mark Sacks Rental Programs Manager Annie Woller Operations Coordinator Tiffany McCue Front Desk Manager Tamika Daniels Assistant Front Desk Manager Dominique Terrell Work/Study Coordinator Hunter Darnell Front Desk Associates Noelle Dor, Roxie Maisel, Lucas Melfi, Carter Shocket, Patricia Suarez, Kareem Woods Maintenance Hector Mazariegos, Orlando Rivera, Virginia Ross, Arturo Velazquez, Darrell Jordan, Kim Williams Booking Representation Michael Mushalla (Double M Arts & Events) Media and General Consultation Services William Murray (Better Attitude, Inc.) Legal Counsel Mark Selinger (McDermott, Will & Emery) Accountant O’Connor Davies, Munns & Dobbins, LLP Orthopaedist David S. Weiss, M.D. (NYU Langone Medical Center) Physical Therapist Marshall Hagins, PT, PhD Hilot Therapist Jeffrey Cohen

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHOSE ANNUAL AND RECOVERY FUND SUPPORT IN FY20 WAS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS

OFFICIAL SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

MAJOR SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

American Express • Anonymous (2) • Timothy McClimon and Suzanne Berman • Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, LLP • Frederick and Morley Bland • Alan and Rhea Bufferd Education Fund • Dance/NYC • James H. Duffy Estate • Judith R. and Alan H. Fishman • Shelby and Frederick Gans • General Catalyst • Isaac Mizrahi and Arnold Germer • Howard Gilman Foundation • Lynn B. Glaser • York-Chi and Stephen Harder • John and Tommye Ireland (in memoriam) • Marc and Melissa James • Suzy Kellems Dominik • Elizabeth Amy Liebman • Nicholas Ma and William Lopez • The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation • Helen and John Meyer • Mark Morris • New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, and Council Members Laurie M. Cumbo and Helen Rosenthal • New York Community Trust • Stavros Niarchos Foundation • Ellen and Arnold Offner • Sarabeth Berman and Evan Osnos • PARC Foundation • Poss Family Foundation • Drs. Jocelynne and Perry Rainey • Diane E. Solway and David Resnicow • The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation • Iris Cohen and Mark Selinger • The SHS Foundation • The Shubert Foundation • Jane and R.L. Stine • Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund • Nancy Umanoff • Jamie Gorelick and Richard Waldhorn • The White Cedar Fund

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Kenneth Aidekman Family Foundation • Anonymous • Arnow Family Fund • Lily Auchincloss Foundation • Bloomberg LP Corporation • Bossak/Heilbron Charitable Foundation • Terry Boyer • Emily G. Buck Fund • Karen and Marilyn Burkhardt • The Campbell Family Foundation • James L. Chervenak • Con Edison • Continental Grain Foundation • Joseph and Joan Cullman Foundation for the Arts • Belden H. and Pamela K. Daniels • The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation • Susan and Gary DeLong • The Dillon Fund • Gale Epstein • Michael and Nancy Feller • Neil R. Ericsson and Karen L. Florini • Daniel Bernstein and Claire Foerster • Paul Fribourg • Candace and Vincent Gaudiani • Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation • Leonore Gordon Fund for Diverse Communities • V Hansmann • The Harkness Foundation for Dance • Macduff and Twyla Hughes • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation • Leatherwood Foundation • Greg and Liz Lutz • Marlene Mandel • Diane and Adam E. Max • Judith G. Mendelsund • Alvin & Louise Myerberg Family Foundation • Harris A. Berman & Ruth Nemzoff Family Foundation • Phoebe Taubman and Craig Nerenberg • Amy and Melvin Okamura • Emily Omura • Parikh Parivar Foundation • Parkinson’s Foundation • Antony Peattie • Cynthia Hazen and Leon B. Polsky • Jerome Robbins Foundation • Billy Rose Foundation • J. Loux and Carol Sanders • The Sence Foundation • The Evelyn Sharp Foundation • Sills Family Foundation • Douglas Thomas • June and Jeffery Wolf • Rachel and Michael Zamsky • Zeitz Foundation • the more than 1,900 individuals giving gifts of $1–$4,999 annually.

IN KIND SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

McDermott Will & Emery • Peregrine Images • Meyer Sound Laboratories, Inc. • Resnicow + Associates

LEGACY GIVING

Individuals who name the Mark Morris Dance Group in estate plans through bequests, gift annuities, charitable trusts, and beneficiary designations, ensure a strong future for the organization. MMDG gratefully acknowledges bequest commitments and gifts received in the past year from James H. Duffy and Christie H. Campbell.

MMDG also acknowledges gifts made in honor and memory of James Bolle, Leonore Gordon, Mary Good, Eilene Evans, Howard Hodgkin, Melanie Kaye/ Kantrowitz, Harvey Lichtenstein, Robert “Bob” Resen, Douglas Schwalbe, Edwin L. Umanoff, and Rob Webb.

y c a Leg ving Gi Planned gifts provide a meaningful opportunity to your legacy with the Mark Morris Dance Group. When you name the Mark Morris Dance Group in estate plans through bequests, gift annuities, charitable trusts, and beneficiary designations, you will automatically become a part of the Legacy Society. Your gift may also have valuable tax benefits to you. Talk with your estate planner or financial advisor for more details.

In fiscal year 2020 which ended June 30, MMDG received generous bequest commitments from Christie H. Campbell and James H. Duffy, in memory of James and Martha Duffy.

MMDG also acknowledges gifts made in honor and memory of James Bolle, Leonore Gordon, Mary Good, Eilene Evans, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Harvey Lichtenstein, Robert “Bob” Resen, Douglas Schwalbe, Rob Webb, and Edwin L. Umanoff.

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Pacific

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judith R. Fishman, Chair David Resnicow, Vice Chair Mark Selinger, Vice Chair Isaac Mizrahi, Secretary Sarabeth Berman Frederick Bland Margaret Conklin Shelby Gans Suzy Kellems Dominik York-Chi Harder Marc James Nicholas Ma Timothy J. McClimon Helen Meyer Mark Morris Ellen Offner Jane Stine Jocelynne Rainey, Ed.D Nancy Umanoff

Photo Credits Cover: Prelude and Prelude, Christopher Duggan

p14: Emily Farache p18: (clockwise) Pas de Poisson Nan Melville; Little Britten, Nan Melville; Love Song Waltzes, Stephanie Berger; Mosaic & United, Beowulf Sheehan; The Trout, Matt Heyward p20: Amber Star Merkins p21: Amber Star Merkins p23: (clockwise) Strict Songs, Daniele Pierre; Canonic 3/4 Studies, Tom Brazil; Dad’s Charts, NA; Wonderland, NA; My Party, NA p28: Pacific, Nan Melville

p3: Richard Termine p6: Ken Jaques p7: Richard Termine p8: Richard Termine p9: Christopher Setter p11: Sarah Marcus p12: Maria Portman Kelly p12: Florian Jalac p13: Florianne Jalac

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The past year underscored the importance of Mark Morris’s motto that dance is for anybody, guiding us to fully embrace our role as cultural leaders in New York City and globally. In the face of extreme physical, financial, and staffing challenges, our talented team - artists, administrators, production crew, board, work-study, interns, and donors - forged new and critical pathways as second responders to the crisis, engaging in vital online connection during a time of great isolation.

Creatively, Mark Morris led the field to provide some of the first online videodance presentations of the pandemic, reaching more fans in a single night than could have been possible in a traditional theater. Financially, our economic model changed significantly, highlighting the important role that people like you play in making sure this work continues to be a resource for our broader community.

Institutionally, our inclusion, equity, diversity and access (I.D.E.A.) work for staff, faculty, dancers, and board continued as did our commitment to representing our BIPOC community at the board level, adding 4 new board members.

We thank you for standing by us and supporting our work. We are honored to have your continued participation as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company.

Judith R. Fishman Board Chair

Nancy Umanoff President and Executive Director

, r e h t e ! n Tog o e c n a d we

www.mmdg.org/support 3 Lafayette Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11217-1415

718.624.8400 | info@mmdg.org

www.markmorrisdancegroup.org