Choreographer Mark Morris, Cal Performances’ Robert Cole, in pas
de deux at Jewish Community Center
By Bruce Bellingham


Robert Cole, who has led Berkeley’s Cal Performances for the past 23 years, will chat with renowned choreographer Mark Morris on Tuesday, May 26, at 8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center (JCC).
One part of the conversation will almost certainly be about Cole’s retirement this month, and the farewell dinner that’s set for Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall on the Cal campus. This event will be catered by Alice Waters and designed by Stanlee Gatti. Natalia Makarova, Ann and Gordon Getty are among the co-chairs.

For those of us who are not prepared to shell out a minimum of $500 for the dinner, we might want to wait for the event at the JCC. Those tickets are $10–$18.

Mark Morris is known for being energetic, witty and entertaining. Among his better-known works are three long dance pieces, The Hard Nut, Dido and Aeneas, and L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato. Cal Performances presents the latter program from May 29–31.

Because Robert Cole has also maintained a close relationship with the San Francisco Ballet over the years, the two will likely have a spirited conversation.

Mark Morris in Conversation with Robert Cole: Kanbar Hall, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St. (at Presidio); tickets at 415-292-1233 or www.jccsf.org/arts