Michael Mao (born Shanghai) is an American modern dance choreographer
and educator. He is the artistic director of Michael Mao Dance.Born in
Shanghai, Mao's family emigrated to New York City when he was 5 years
old. A graduate of Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, Mao earned
his BA in Literature from Princeton University. During his junior and
senior years at Princeton, Mao successfully petitioned for dance to be
recognized as deserving of academic credit. He would go on to receive
his MA in Far Eastern Languages from Harvard University, where he was
also a Ford Foundation Prize Fellow.Concurrent with his scholastic
studies, Mao trained and performed as a professional dancer under the
tutelage of Ted Shawn at Jacob's Pillow Dance, with Margaret Craske,
Manolo Vargas, and Zena Rommett, and at the Martha Graham and Joffrey
schools and the Cunningham studio.As a dancer, Mao gave his earliest
performances with Princeton Ballet. After working with Graziela
Daniele for Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston and performing
with Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble, Mao began to split his time between
Boston and New York. During this period he danced in Twyla Tharp’s
Medley which brought him to the attention of leading choreographers
from the Judson Movement. Extensive work with Toby Armour, James
Waring, Aileen Passloff, Remy Charlip, and Carolyn Brown led Mao to
return to Boston where he joined Ms. Armour’s company, New England
Dinosaur. Over the course of the next decade he would assume command
of the company as artistic director and ultimately as sole
choreographer. In 1986, having expanded the repertoire to include
works from a wide array of choreographers - including dances from
Armour, Charlip, Passloff, Waring, Trisha Brown, Hans van Manen, Lotte
Goslar and Carolyn Carlson - Mao relocated the company to New York
City as Michael Mao Dance.
and educator. He is the artistic director of Michael Mao Dance.Born in
Shanghai, Mao's family emigrated to New York City when he was 5 years
old. A graduate of Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, Mao earned
his BA in Literature from Princeton University. During his junior and
senior years at Princeton, Mao successfully petitioned for dance to be
recognized as deserving of academic credit. He would go on to receive
his MA in Far Eastern Languages from Harvard University, where he was
also a Ford Foundation Prize Fellow.Concurrent with his scholastic
studies, Mao trained and performed as a professional dancer under the
tutelage of Ted Shawn at Jacob's Pillow Dance, with Margaret Craske,
Manolo Vargas, and Zena Rommett, and at the Martha Graham and Joffrey
schools and the Cunningham studio.As a dancer, Mao gave his earliest
performances with Princeton Ballet. After working with Graziela
Daniele for Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston and performing
with Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble, Mao began to split his time between
Boston and New York. During this period he danced in Twyla Tharp’s
Medley which brought him to the attention of leading choreographers
from the Judson Movement. Extensive work with Toby Armour, James
Waring, Aileen Passloff, Remy Charlip, and Carolyn Brown led Mao to
return to Boston where he joined Ms. Armour’s company, New England
Dinosaur. Over the course of the next decade he would assume command
of the company as artistic director and ultimately as sole
choreographer. In 1986, having expanded the repertoire to include
works from a wide array of choreographers - including dances from
Armour, Charlip, Passloff, Waring, Trisha Brown, Hans van Manen, Lotte
Goslar and Carolyn Carlson - Mao relocated the company to New York
City as Michael Mao Dance.
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