Paul Taylor American Modern Dance

Paul Taylor American Modern Dance
Name	Paul Taylor
Caption	Paul Taylor in 1960
Birth date	January 29, 1930
Birth place	Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Death date	August 29, 2018
Death place	New York City
Occupation	Dancer, choreographer
Known for	Founder, Paul Taylor Dance Company

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Paul Taylor American Modern Dance Paul Taylor was an influential American modern dancer and choreographer whose company and repertory reshaped modern dance in the 20th century. Trained amid the legacies of pioneers such as Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and José Limón, Taylor forged a distinctive voice that bridged theatricality, abstraction, satire, and lyricism. His work premiered on major stages including New York City Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and has been performed by companies like American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Early life and training

Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and raised in Washington, D.C., Taylor attended Bates College and Syracuse University before moving to New York City to pursue dance. His early teachers and influences included Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Doris Humphrey, and José Limón, and he worked with innovators such as Merce Cunningham and Twyla Tharp during formative years. Taylor studied under musicians and composers like John Cage and collaborated with designers from the circles of Isamu Noguchi and Ted Shawn-era modernists.

Taylor joined the Martha Graham Dance Company and was a principal dancer with the Danspace Project-era modern scene before founding his own ensemble, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, in 1954. The Company quickly became a repertory institution in New York City and toured internationally to venues including the Edinburgh Festival, Lincoln Center, and the Spoleto Festival USA. Touring partners and presenters included Jacob's Pillow, American Dance Festival, and companies like Royal Ballet and Ballet Rambert that mounted his works. The Company nurtured generations of artists who later joined institutions such as ABT Studio Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and academic programs at Juilliard School and New York University.

Taylor's choreographic vocabulary incorporated pedestrian movement, athleticism, and formal musicality, aligning him with figures such as Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch while remaining distinct from Martha Graham's contraction technique. Signature works include "Aureole" (1962), "Esplanade" (1975), "Company B" (1991), "The Wasteland" (1985), and " Arden Court" (1981), which have been staged by companies like San Francisco Ballet and Royal Swedish Ballet. He set dances to scores by composers including Bach, Igor Stravinsky, Steve Reich, Aaron Copland, and George Balanchine collaborators, and worked with designers from the worlds of Isamu Noguchi, Florence Klotz, and Peter Martins-related production teams. Critics in outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Dance Magazine have discussed his balance of satire and lyricism, noting echoes of Samuel Beckett and Tennessee Williams in some dramatic works.

Taylor collaborated with composers and musicians including Gustav Mahler interpreters, contemporary composers like Phillip Glass, and electronic innovators such as John Cage-affiliated artists. He worked with visual artists and designers linked to Alexander Calder, Isamu Noguchi, and theatrical directors from Lincoln Center Theater circles. Dancers trained in his company went on to shape institutions like Ballet Hispánico, Paul Taylor American Modern Dance School alumni networks, and university programs at Harvard University and Yale School of Drama through residencies. His influence is evident in choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, and Jirí Kylián, and in repertory commissions by New York City Ballet, Royal Opera House, and regional companies across Europe and Asia.

Taylor received numerous honors including the MacArthur Fellowship, the National Medal of Arts, and a Tony Award-era recognition for dance achievements. He was a recipient of awards from Guggenheim Foundation, Kennedy Center Honors, and honorary degrees from institutions such as Juilliard School and Yale University. His repertory is preserved by the Paul Taylor Dance Company and licensed to major companies, festivals, and conservatories including Jacob's Pillow archives and the Library of Congress performing arts collections. Scholars at centers like Smithsonian Institution and New York Public Library for the Performing Arts have mounted retrospectives and archival exhibitions.

Taylor lived in New York City where he continued to create, rehearse, and oversee his company into his eighties, collaborating with successive generations including artistic directors who liaised with institutions like Ford Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts. He maintained friendships with artists such as Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, and composers connected to Lincoln Center. Taylor died in New York City in 2018; his death prompted obituaries in The New York Times, The Guardian, and dance journals worldwide. His legacy continues through the Paul Taylor Dance Company, educational initiatives, and the ongoing staging of his repertory by companies such as American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and international ensembles.

Category:American choreographers Category:Modern dancers