DANCE

When Maurice Bejart and his Ballet of the 20th Century left Brussels for Lausanne last year, 32-year-old, Seattle-born dancer-choreographer Mark Morris was invited to replace him. On Tuesday, Morris’ new 24-member company made its debut at Brussels’ Centre de la Monnaie in the premiere of his two-hour “L’allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato,” set to music by Handel. “An event of historic proportions,” reported “Le Soir,” Belgium’s most widely read French language daily newspaper, on its front page. However, Morris’ supporters are expecting harsh criticism from Bejart loyalists and adherents of Dance-Theater, a European style that Morris doesn’t work in. “This show is like a giant salvo in the aesthetic war now being fought on the Continent,” said company manager Barry Alterman. In addition, Belgian dancers handed out leaflets outside the theater, protesting their lack of opportunities in the new company. (Morris currently employs only one Belgian dancer).