Mark Morris, an avant-garde artist with mainstream appeal, is known as much for his affection for music as his affinity for movement. For years heย’s toured the world choreographing ballets and operas for the worldย’s preeminent companies, but today his Brooklyn-based Mark Morris Dance Group visits Houston, courtesy of the Society for the Performing Arts, to perform its own repertoire. The program includes Excursions, with jaunty music by Samuel Barber; Going Away Party, likely to be a crowd favorite, since itย’s set to the music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys; and the more serious Italian Concerto, set to Bach. 8ย p.m. Friday and Saturday. Wortham Center, 500 Texas. For information, call 713-227-4772 or visit www.spahouston.org. $22 to $57.
Fri., Jan. 15, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 16, 8 p.m., 2010