LAS VEGAS, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bliss Dance – the breathtaking, 40-foot-tall sculpture of a dancing woman created by artist Marco Cochrane – has found a new home. The art installation will permanently inhabit The Park, MGM Resorts International's (NYSE:  MGM) dynamic outdoor dining and entertainment district that will transform the west side of the Las Vegas Strip when it opens April 4, 2016.

Cochrane will begin the installation of Bliss Dance on Monday, February 29 and will complete the process over a few days.

For multimedia assets, visit http://bit.ly/BlissDanceVegas 

The structure and scale of Bliss Dance was inspired by Cochrane's first experience at Burning Man, and the piece debuted in 2010 at the annual arts and culture event in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. She later resided on San Francisco's Treasure Island as a public display before being refurbished, and has now returned to the desert as a centerpiece of The Park's natural landscaping, plantings and inspired design.

Bliss Dance is Cochrane's and model Deja Solis' powerful statement about female strength, self-confidence and expression. Marco Cochrane said, "What I see missing in the world is an appreciation and respect for feminine energy and power that results when women are free and safe. It seems obvious to me that feminine energy is being suppressed and that this must change.  If we are to find real, lasting solutions to the problems facing humanity, men and women must be able to work together as equals. Bliss Dance is intended to focus attention on this issue." 

Weighing more than 7,500 pounds, the dancer's form achieves lightness and momentum through ingenious structural engineering using triangulated geodesic struts. Mesh stainless steel "skin" forms the curvatures of a body in motion – an imminent and ethereal mobility that seems to soar through space. Glimmering beneath the sun by day, and illuminated by 3,000 colored LED lights by night, Bliss Dance is a visual spectacle that portrays the inner confidence and uninhibited expression of its subject.

This incredible feat of engineering and design was Cochrane's first piece in his tri-part series, The Bliss Project. Intended to be a catalyst for social change, Bliss Dance and her counterparts Truth is Beauty and R-Evolution transcend the physical world, connecting with viewers on an emotional level with the humanity of the person, to de-objectify the female form. By creating pieces of this scale, Cochrane hopes to inspire viewers to take an active role in ending violence to women and making room for women's voices.

Bliss Dance will be the focal piece of the new pedestrian park experience. An eclectic blend of restaurants, bars and entertainment tucked into rich desert landscaping, The Park will become a central gathering place on The Strip's west side connecting New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts as well as the new 20,000-seat world-class T-Mobile Arena. An interactive and social environment, The Park aims to build a sense of community through innovative programming and events.

Don Thrasher, President of The Park, said, "From its scale to its visual magnificence, Bliss Dance is unlike anything in Las Vegas and will be an unparalleled addition to The Park. The sculpture's legacy of inspiring curiosity and captivating the imaginations of spectators will thrive in our city."

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company also owns 51% of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is in the process of developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50% of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino.  For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at mgmresorts.com.  

About Marco Cochrane
Marco Cochrane was born to American artists in Venice, Italy in 1962.  Raised in Northern California in the midst of the political and cultural movement of those times, he was imbued with a deep respect for balance, unity and the imperative to make the world a better place. 

SOURCE MGM Resorts International

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