In the fall of 1989, Mikhail Baryshnikov entered into a dialogue with modern choreographer Mark Morris about the idea of a small touring group - a troupe of diverse and accomplished dancers to travel throughout the world performing modern dance works. In the fall of 1990, White Oak Dance Project made its debut performance in Boston, Massachusetts in an evening of works by Morris. The engagement was the start of a month long U.S. tour to 17 cities. By the close of 2000, the Company has produced over 35 tours, with more than 600 performances in 27 countries.
With an ever-changing roster of dancers and choreographers, White Oak defies typical modern dance company models. It embraces an eclectic array of dance works thereby exposing the many facets of modern dance vocabulary. In configurations ranging from large group ensembles to solo tours to special projects with invited guest artists, White Oak transforms itself to accommodate the artistic vision of Baryshnikov - a vision shaped by diversity, possibility, curiosity, and a desire to move forward. In tandem with the wide-ranging choreographic repertoire is the selection of unique, distinctive and experienced dancers culled from all corner of the dance field.
Over the years, White Oak has commissioned more than 40 new works from masters and emerging artists alike including David Gordon, Neil Greenberg, Lucy Guerin, John Jasperse, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, Tere O'Connor, Kevin O'Day, Kraig Patterson, Dana Reitz, Jerome Robbins, Joachim Schlomer, Meg Stuart, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp. In addition, the Company has acquired over 25 works by artists including Trisha Brown, Martha Clarke, Merce Cunningham, Jane Dudley, Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Jose Limon, and Meredith Monk.
In 2000, the Company will present PASTForward - a project that illuminates the radical and courageous work of seminal American choreographers from the 1960's and 70's. Through this multi-faceted performance and media project, White Oak will present new and reconstructed works by Trisha Brown, Lucinda Childs, Simone Forti, David Gordon, Deborah Hay, Steve Paxton and Yvonne Rainer. Included in the project are residency and documentation activities designed to provide a context for the work and the complex times in which it was made. PASTForward will continue through 2001 with additional artists invited to participate. The Company takes it name form the White Oak Plantation - a 7,500 acre wildlife preserve on the Florida-Georgia border owned by The Howard Gilman Foundation, whose late founder was a friend and supporter of the group.