An Exercise in Balance

Artist and dancer MJ Harper devises a performance in the context of Grace Wales Bonner's exhibition A Time for New Dreams.

Michael-John Harper is a Berlin-based performance artist, classically-trained dancer, movement director and model. Harper brings together movement, spoken word and moving image in his performances, allowing for his unique form of self-presentation to reside between choreography and visual art. Harper has previously collaborated with Wales Bonner, choreographing her previous presentation, Blue Duets (Spring/Summer 2018), inspired by ideas of searching, cruising, and romanticism. Harper began his training at Michael’s Academy for the Performing Arts. In 2010, he joined the Alvin Ailey II Junior Dance Company in New York and in 2010 became a member of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance (now Company Wayne McGregor) where he remained until 2015. Harper has toured the world extensively with performances in venues such as MoMA and the Guggenheim. Since moving to Berlin in 2015, Harper has presented works at galleries, including Blain|Southern, Souvenir By, and most recently The Schinkel Pavillon. Harper has also performed with the Bavarian State Opera and the Komische Oper Berlin.