Mark Morris, 50
Choreographer, 2006 recipient of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Mayor's Award for Arts & Culture
Like Smoot, Morris travels to stay mentally on his toes, but for him, the destination of choice is India. On a recent visit to a resort in Kerala, he received morning and evening Ayurvedic massages, "all involving a large quantity of hot oil," did yoga, worked out, went vegetarian, and enjoyed the fact that somebody else was planning his entire schedule. When he gets stuck on a dance in his Brooklyn studio, he diverts his attention, perhaps to another piece he's creating. "I don't stop working," he says. "I work all the time. Inspiration is either overrated or doesn't exist. This is my job; I show up and I do it. I don't get extrasensitive and go lie down or something."
