Since the China Modern Dance Summit began in July, Beijing has
welcomed a number of world-class dance companies, ranging from
Taiwanese choreographer Lin Hwai-min's Cloud Gate Dance Theater, to
Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal and the Alvin Ailey Dance
Company.
Now comes the legendary Paul Taylor.
The 76-year-old choreographer studied with Martha Graham and is
the last of that second generation of modern dance masters from the
United States, who still produces works with astonishing
regularity.
Black Tuesday, presented by
the Paul Taylor Dance Company, celebrates the verve of those who
lived through the Great Depression and is set to popular songs of
the era. (file photo from China Daily)
He has influenced dozens of dancers, many of whom have gone on
to become choreographers or established their own troupes. Among
them are the above-mentioned Bausch, who studied with Taylor in New
York, in 1959; and Lin, who decided on a career in dance after
watching one of Taylor's performances in Taipei, in 1973.
It is fitting, therefore, that a scintillating season of modern
dance should end with Taylor.
Few 20th century artists have had such a profound impact on
their art form as Taylor has had on dance. In Taylor's
choreography, the body and its range of movements know no limits.
His work creates an awareness of what the body can do, and what
dance can be.
Since he created his first avant-garde works in 1954, Taylor has
choreographed 125 dances, performed by his companies (including
Taylor 2), as well as renowned dance groups in the United States
and abroad.
Growing up near Washington, Taylor was a keen swimmer and
student of art at Syracuse University, in the late 1940s, before
discovering dance. He studied at Juilliard, then joined the Martha
Graham Dance Company in 1955, where he was a soloist for seven
seasons. At the same time he started choreographing and founded his
own troupe in 1954. He also danced and choreographed with George
Balanchine's New York City Ballet in the 1960s.
After retiring as a performer in 1975, Taylor devoted himself
fully to choreography. His two dance companies travel the globe
performing his ever-burgeoning repertoire at theaters, college
campuses and in rural communities.
Paul Taylor Dance Company's China debut was in 1996 and it
returned for a four-week, six-city tour in 2001.
For its third tour, the company brings two programs. Program A
tonight and on Sunday, includes Cloven Kingdom, Black Tuesday and
Promethean Fire; Program B on Saturday is Byzantium, Company B and
Esplanade.
The six works were created by Taylor from 1975 to 2002 and
present the choreographer's cutting-edge approach to dance in
different periods.
Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform at the Poly Theater.
(China Daily November 16, 2007)
