<BR><small>Mark Morris Dance Group in 'Grand Duo'</small><P>15 February 2002<P>PRESS RELEASE<P><BR><B>Mark Morris wins 2 major Awards</B><P>New York based choreographer and Dance Umbrella regular, Mark Morris was today the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance for "the Mark Morris Dance Group's season at Sadler's Wells" as part of Dance Umbrella 2001. This accompanies his recent Time Out Live Award for the most Outstanding Production, recognising the critical and public acclaim of the world premiere of Morris's work V.<P><BR><B>Mark Morris Dance Group UK Tour</B><P>Dance Umbrella secured record-breaking funding from the Art Council of England in the form of the largest single grant awarded to an international contemporary dance company from the National Touring Programme. Managed by Dance Umbrella, with generous kind support from American Airlines, Mark Morris Dance Group undertook its most ambitious and successful UK tour to date.<P>"Mark Morris Dance Group enjoyed huge success on tour this year with a beautiful programme of work that reached more people than ever. Over 16,000 tickets were sold during this eight venue tour which took to the road following festival performances at Sadler's Wells. Dance Umbrella looks forward to presenting the company's return visit to the UK." <BR>Val Bourne, Artistic Director<P><BR>Dance Umbrella 2001 achieved the highest ever attendance of any festival in the organisation's 23-year history. With 52 performances across seven venues attendances this year reached just over 36,000 representing an overall attendance of 84%.<P><BR>Dance Umbrella enquiry line: 020 8741 5881. Web-site <A HREF="http://www.danceumbrella.co.uk" TARGET=_blank>www.danceumbrella.co.uk</A> <P><BR>