the company
Eran Bugge, Michelle Fleet, Parisa Khobdeh
Christina Markham, Heather Mcginley, Laura Halzack
Jamie Rae Walker, Aileen Roehl
Michael Apuzzo, Francisco Graciano, Robert Kleinendorst
Sean Mahoney, Micheal Novak, James Samson
George Smallwood, Michael Trusnovec
artistic director Paul Taylor
répétiteur Bettie de Jong
principal lighting designer Jennifer Tipton
principal set & costume designer Santo Loquasto
executive director John Tomlinson
company manager Holden Kellerhals
director of touring engagements Timothy Robinson
production Manager Steven Carlino
lighting supervisor Micheal Dostal
costume supervisor Clarion Overmoyer
In the beginning there was Martha Graham, who changed the form. Then there was Merce Cunningham, who showed us dance’s heart. And then, Paul Taylor, who let the sun shine in.
The Paul Taylor Dance Company will be performing at Spoleto, Teatro Romano on July 11th and 12th at 21.15 as a part of their 2014 Diamond Anniversary Tour. The 60th Anniversary Season celebrates Paul Taylor’s masterworks spanning seven decades, from 1954 through today.
Paul Taylor is considered by many to be America’s greatest living choreographer – a founder and towering icon of modern dance, an indigenous American art form. Taylor’s ideas have continued to influence art of the 21st century. Over 60 years, Mr. Taylor has created 140 dances including the ones we will see at the Spoleto Festival among many others. At 83, he continues to craft new works.
Program Friday 11st of July 2014
AIRS
music Georg Friedrich Händel
from Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 n.2, 3, 4° & 4b, 6
and from Alcina, Ariodante, Berenice e Salomon
choreography Paul Taylor
sets and costumes Gene Moore
ligthing Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 1978
lenght 25 min
Airs is a new and distinctive vintage, of mellowness and classic finish that give it a sublime autumnal glow. Incredibly diversified and complex. The whole work is a treasure.
AMERICAN DREAMER
music Stephen Foster Songs sung by Thomas Hampson
choreography Paul Taylor
set and costumes Santo Loquasto
lighting Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 2013
length 21min
Dancers in a rehearsal evoke 19th Century America in a pastoral dance of courtship and comedy. The score consists of popular songs that have attained the status of anthems by the nation’s first great songwriter, Stephen Foster (1826-1864), sung by Thomas Hampson.
PIAZZOLLA CALDERA
music Astor Piazzolla and Jerzy Peterburshsky
choreography Paul Taylor
set and costumes Santo Loquasto
lighting Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 1997
length 22 min
Without a single authentic tango step, Paul Taylor captures the essence of tango culture. Taylor looks at the attitudes implicit of the tango – as sexual game, as social identity – and reshapes them. Seethes and flares with sexuality and develops a huge erotic charge.
Program Saturday 12 of July
MERCURIC TIDINGS
music Franz Schubert, Symphonies n. 1 e 2
choreography Paul Taylor
costumes Gene Moore
lighting Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 1982
lenght 25 minuti
Danced for the sheer joy of it, the controlled expenditure of animal energy, poetry expressed as a time and motion of study, young people cavorting with the kinetic propensities of young godless.
Intermission
DUST
music Francis Poulenc Concert Champêtre
choreography Paul Taylor
set and costumes Gene Moore
lighting Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 1977
lenght 26 muniti
The man is a genius which he demonstrated again with a fantastic new and macabre ballet. Remarkably well danced, with the company moving through this Goya-like vision of hell-in-life with the even-humored energy of athletes.
Intermission
PIAZZOLLA CALDERA
music Astor Piazzolla and Jerzy Peterburshsky
choreography Paul Taylor
set and costumes Santo Loquasto
lighting Jennifer Tipton
prémiere 1997
length 22 min
Without a single authentic tango step, Paul Taylor captures the essence of tango culture. Taylor looks at the attitudes implicit of the tango – as sexual game, as social identity – and reshapes them. Seethes and flares with sexuality and develops a huge erotic charge.
MetLife Foundation is the Official Tour Sponsor of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Major funding for the 2014 Season is provided by The SHS Foundation and the Board of Trustees and Friends of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation. Support is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
PAUL TAYLOR
Paul Taylor is the greatest living pioneer of American modern dance, with 139 dances made since 1954 when he established the Paul Taylor Dance Company. He continues to offer cogent observations on life’s complexities and society’s thorniest issues through his works. A virtuoso dancer for 20 years, Mr. Taylor turned exclusively to choreography in 1974; the dance that followed, Esplanade, was hailed an instant classic. His works are performed by PTDC, Taylor 2 and companies the world over. Kennedy Center honoree, he is the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Dancemaker, and author of the acclaimed autobiography, Private Domain.
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY
The world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company sets the global standard for contemporary dance excellence. Since the company’s founding in 1954, Mr. Taylor has choreographed 140 dances, many of which have attained iconic status and have been celebrated throughout the world. The Company has performed in more than 524 cities and 64 countries. Mr. Taylor continues to create at least two new works a year for his 16-member Company. His autobiography, Private Domain, was published in 1987 and the Company was the subject of the documentary film Dancemaker, nominated for an Academy Award in 1999. A book of essays mostly for fun called Facts and Fancies was written by Mr. Taylor in 2013. He has achieved countless accolades, including two of our nation’s highest artistic distinctions: the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts.
