Dance is an ever-evolving art form; more or less in the same way that you can categorize and differentiate eras and architectural styles, you can also do it with dance. These eras sometimes have clear delineations that separate them from those before them, other times the distinction is much more subtle. Traditional dance forms were challenged by choreographers who attempted to expand the breadth and increase the depth of performance; Prominent among these visionaries is Seattle-born dancer and choreographer Mark Morris. Mark Morris began as one of the millions of hopeful individuals simply trying to make a career in dance; not only did he succeed, but he managed to have a lasting effect on the entire dance landscape. Mark Morris was born and raised in Seattle, Washington; a place very receptive to fine arts and free expression. Unlike the stereotypical rise through adversity with unaccepting parents, Morris' parents were actually incredibly supportive of his dreams. Morris decided early on that he wanted to be an artist, not an accountant. Born in 1956, he was greatly influenced by his music-loving family, instilling in him a great appreciation for opera and classical music; this would later appear in his choreography. He danced early on for the Koleda Balkan Dance Ensemble, establishing himself in 1973. He managed to earn enough respect to choreograph his first major performance in 1978 at the age of 22. Mark Morris branched out and established himself as a successful choreographer in 1980 and founded the Mark Morris Dance Group. He founded this company after moving to New York City. His first major choreographic work, Rattlesnake Song, garnered critical acclaim from r...... middle of paper ...... eview Dance Board. (2010, February 13). Mark Morris on Mozart. Retrieved February 28, 2010, from The Harvard Art Review: http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~harvardartreview/wordpress/2010/02/24/mark-morris-on-mozart-2/The Wikipedia Collective. (2010, February 22). Marco Morris. Retrieved February 28, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_MorrisTobias, T. (2008, July 7). Mark Morris rethinks Prokofiev's "Romeo" as lustful, gender diverse, non-tragic. Retrieved February 27, 2010, from Seeing Things: Tobi Tobias on Dance et al.: http://www.artsjournal.com/tobias/2008/07/mark_morris_rethinks_prokofiev.htmlTolve, A. (2007, December 17). Long-time friends both find places at the Mark Morris Dance Company. Retrieved February 28, 2010, from SFGate: http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-12-17/entertainment/17274863_1_mark-morris-dance-group-ethan-iverson-youngest-dancers