Paul Taylor Dance Company

Paul Taylor Dance Company
Name	Paul Taylor Dance Company
Founded	1954
Founder	Paul Taylor
Headquarters	New York City
Artistic director	Michael Novak
Dance style	Contemporary dance, Modern dance
Notable works	Aureole; Esplanade; Mercuric Tidings
Website	paulotaylor.org

Paul Taylor Dance Company is an American modern dance company founded by choreographer Paul Taylor in 1954 in New York City. The company became one of the most influential ensembles in modern dance and contemporary dance during the 20th and 21st centuries, presenting a repertoire that spans from experimental early works to large-scale evening-length ballets. Its activities have intersected with institutions such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and City Center and with festivals including Jacob's Pillow, Spoleto Festival USA, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

History

Taylor formed the troupe after performing with companies led by Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and George Balanchine, bringing together aesthetics from these choreographers and influences from Graham technique and Cunningham technique. Early premieres occurred at venues like Guggenheim Museum and cultural hubs across New York City in the 1950s and 1960s. The company's growth paralleled developments at organizations such as Dance Theater Workshop and institutions including Juilliard School and New York University, while collaborations and commissions involved ensembles like the Paris Opera Ballet and ballet companies in Israel and Japan. Key moments included premieres at New York State Theater and tours that expanded the company's presence to the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Repertoire and Notable Works

The repertoire features over 140 works, among them landmark pieces such as Aureole (1962), Esplanade (1975), and Beloved Renegade. Taylor's choreographies often balance comedic, satirical pieces with solemn, lyrical scores drawn from composers like Mozart, Bach, John Cage, Philip Glass, and Poulenc. Collaborating composers, designers, and visual artists have included Meredith Monk, Robert Wilson, and George Balanchine associates. The company has mounted programmatic evenings combining Taylor's classics with newer commissions by choreographers linked to institutions such as American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Ballets Russes alumni. Revivals of Taylor's works often reference archival material held at repositories like the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Company Structure and Leadership

Originally led by Taylor as artistic director, leadership transitioned following his passing, with stewardship by a board including figures from Lincoln Center and advisors from institutions such as Juilliard. The company operates with an administrative team interfacing with presenters like Dance/USA and venue managers at City Center. Artistic decisions have been guided by a team model that includes répétiteurs and rehearsal directors trained in Taylor's movement vocabulary, many of whom studied at schools like The Ailey School and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Funding and governance involve relationships with foundations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and private donors connected to cultural entities like the Guggenheim Foundation.

Dancers and Alumni

Company members have included notable performers who later joined or collaborated with ensembles like American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and European companies such as the Royal Ballet. Alumni have gone on to careers as choreographers, educators, and directors affiliated with institutions like Princeton University, Yale School of Drama, and Curtis Institute of Music. Guest artists and former members have included names linked to Martha Graham Dance Company and Merce Cunningham Dance Company, while some have pursued interdisciplinary projects with artists from the worlds of jazz and visual art associated with galleries like MoMA PS1.

Tours, Performances, and Residencies

The company has toured extensively, appearing at venues including Lincoln Center Festival, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and houses across Europe such as Sadler's Wells Theatre and Théâtre du Châtelet. Residencies have been hosted by festivals and institutions including Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Vail Dance Festival, and university programs at Harvard University and Columbia University. International appearances encompassed tours to countries served by cultural exchange programs with entities like the US State Department and partnerships with arts councils such as the Arts Council England.

Education and Outreach Programs

Educational initiatives have included workshops, masterclasses, and lecture-demonstrations conducted at conservatories and community centers linked to New York Public Library, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and public school partnerships mediated by organizations like DANCE/USA. Apprenticeship and trainee programs provided pathways into professional performance and teaching roles, often coordinated with summer intensives at venues such as Jacob's Pillow and training institutions like The Ailey School and Trinity Laban. Outreach has involved collaborations with arts education nonprofits and municipal arts agencies in cities including New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Awards and Legacy

The company and Paul Taylor received honors from bodies such as the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, and multiple awards from the Dance Magazine Awards and Bessie Awards. The repertory's influence is evident in contemporary choreographers and institutions across the United States and Europe, shaping curricula at schools like Juilliard and repertory choices at companies including New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Archival preservation efforts involve libraries and museums such as the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring the company's legacy in the histories of American dance and global contemporary choreography.

Category:Dance companies in New York City Category:Modern dance