Paul Taylor Dance Company

The Paul Taylor Dance Company performing Taylor's Esplanade, which was reconstructed by Ruth Andrian and was performed by Florida State University as part of the American Masterpieces: Dance -- College Component in 2007.

Paul Taylor Dance Company, is a contemporary dance company, formed by Paul Taylor, an American choreographers of the 20th century. One of the early touring companies of American modern dance, the Company has "performed in more than 500 cities in 62 countries" and still spends more than half of each performance season touring in American cities.

Paul Taylor originally performed in the companies of Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, and George Balanchine, but founded his own, Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1954. Dancers/Choreographers who emerged from his company include David Parsons, Twyla Tharp, Laura Dean, Dan Wagoner, Christopher Gillis and Senta Driver.

Twyla Tharp joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1963 and two years later formed her own company. Christopher Gillis joined in 1976. He was a member until his death in 1993.

The Company has appeared in PBS programs nine times. In 1999, the PBS American Masters series aired Matthew Diamond's documentary about Paul Taylor and his company, Dancemaker.

In 2005, it was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Reviews

• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts says "...one of the world’s most exquisite ensembles."
• PBS refers to this Dance Company as "one of American's premier troupes"
• Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts says "One of the world's most brilliant dance companies..." and calls Paul Taylor "...a living legend."

References

• Nonesuch VHS (1992) Speaking in Tongues, ASIN: 6302550394
• PBS Thirteen/WNET VHS (1996) The Wrecker's Ball (Company B, Funny Papers, A Field of Grass)
• Warnervision VHS (1999) Paul Taylor Dance Company (Esplanade, Runes), ASIN: 1568327889
• Docurama DVD (2000) Dancemaker, ASIN: 0767023447

External links

• Official Site

• Article at UCSB.edu

• Eighty New York Times articles about this Dance Company

• Constructing The Wrecker's Ball Dance Magazine, October, 1996