One of the world’s foremost dance companies, the Paul Taylor Dance Company is recognized for innovating and transforming modern dance. Under the artistic direction of Michael Novak and drawing from a history of multidisciplinary collaborations, passionate expression, and thrilling athleticism, the Company is known for a vast repertory that features work from the Founder’s canon, new works created by some of today’s most engaging choreographers and established and important historical dances from the 20th and 21st centuries. Dedicated to sharing modern dance with the broadest possible audience, the Company tours annually, both domestically and internationally.
For over 65 years, the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC) has toured the world, performing in more than 600 cities in 66 countries, representing the United States at arts festivals in more than 40 countries and touring extensively throughout North America, South America, Asia and Europe. This spring they bring a new era of Taylor to 14 cities across the United States, including Nashville. Performances are in TPAC’s Polk Theater at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31.
Audiences often have questions about modern dance – what it means, and what makes PTDC special. Taylor dancers are known for their athleticism, courage, sincerity, power, grace, and expression. But in addition to all of that, the hallmark style of the PTDC company is to initiate all movement from the back. Paul Taylor was a competitive swimmer with a large physical build, but incredible fluidity and speed. The style he created emerged as a fusion from hours in the pool and the dance styles of George Balanchine, Charles Weidman, and Martha Graham, among many others.
Taylor dancers vary greatly in height, dance training, and their backgrounds. There is no single look for the Company, but more a feeling they exude – a quality of authenticity, power, fearlessness and community when they dance.
Audiences naturally look for meaning behind the PTDC movement and designs, assuming that there is a hidden message meant to be de-coded and understood. Sometimes this is the case and sometimes not. The breadth of this spectrum is what makes modern dance so fascinating and relevant as an art form.
Paul Taylor also used gesture as a way to initiate movement, so even though PTDC movements may appear abstract they are often imbued with feeling. This means that for many audience members, meaning can happen almost subliminally. What’s important is to really pay attention to how the dance and dancers make you feel and to embrace your role as a responsive audience member.
PTDC is dedicated to opening access to dance to as many as possible, Therefore, they have instated a “Kids Go For Free” policy: Bring the whole family to enjoy the beauty and power of dance. Purchase an adult ticket and bring a child for free, for the Friday, May 30 performance only. Receive one complimentary ticket for one child aged 6 to 17 with the purchase of one standard ticket; limit of four (4) complimentary tickets per household.
Event Details for the performance, which consists of three segments, as follows:
“Esplanade,” with Choreography by Paul Taylor and Music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The definitive Paul Taylor work, “Esplanade” is at once playful, somber, romantic, and explosive. This pillar of modern dance instantly affirmed Taylor as one of history’s greatest choreographers. An esplanade is an outdoor place to walk. In 1975, Paul Taylor, inspired by the sight of a girl running to catch a bus, created a masterwork based on pedestrian movement. If contemporaries Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg could use ordinary “found objects” like Coke bottles and American flags in their art, Taylor would use such “found movements” as standing, walking, running, sliding, and falling.
“Company B,” with Choreography by Paul Taylor and Music — Songs sung by the Andrews Sisters.
Just as America began to emerge from the Depression at the dawn of the 1940s, the country was drawn into the Second World War. In a seminal piece of Americana, Paul Taylor recalls that turbulent era through the hit songs of the Andrews Sisters. Although the songs depict a nation surging with high spirits, millions of men were bidding farewell to wives or girlfriends, and many would never return from battle. The dance focuses on such poignant dualities.
“Arden Court,” with Choreography by Paul Taylor, and Music by William Boyce.
The name Arden Court is a reference to Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” and its vision of a pastoral place of peace and beauty. Set to the music of Baroque composer William Boyce, this famous work by Paul Taylor showcases the power and beauty of male dancers, proving that the strong and powerful can also be sensitive. The backdrop is a beautiful rose – an homage to Paul’s mother – creating an idyllic landscape of harmony, innocence, and romance.
