Paul Taylor Dance Foundation Launches PAUL TAYLOR: CELEBRATE THE DANCEMAKER

Paul Taylor Dance Foundation (PTDF) announces the launch of "Paul Taylor: Celebrate the Dancemaker," a multi-year worldwide celebration of Paul Taylor's astonishing legacy as well as his vision of a future for modern dance. Led by Mr. Taylor's chosen successor, Artistic Director Michael Novak, this celebration will focus on three components - domestic and international touring of the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC) and Taylor 2 entitled "The Celebration Tour"; worldwide licensing of Mr. Taylor's dances; and the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance (PTAMD) 2019 New York Season at Lincoln Center.

"Paul Taylor was a great many things during his blessedly long life: commanding performer, accomplished writer, keen observer of human nature, Renaissance man, and, of course, a prolific dancemaker," said Mr. Novak. "From the moment he began to choreograph in 1954, he brought a unique and multifaceted perspective to the American art of modern dance. By 2018, when he died at age 88, he had made 147 dances, many of which are considered to be among the best artworks ever created. He was hailed as 'the master of light and dark' for good reason: his repertoire covered an unprecedented range. There were dances that took an unflinching look at war, depravity, and death. Other dances were funny (very funny actually). And some reminded us all of the poignancy of uninhibited love and hope."

Mr. Novak continued, "Looking at this man's oeuvre, and deciding how to honor him, has been at the forefront of my mind. And, in taking a cue from our Founder, I decided to do what has never been done: launch a multi-year global celebration that brings together masterpieces in his great repertoire, all to create an unprecedented opportunity for audiences to connect with Paul's history - and the history of modern dance - like never before."

Mr. Novak is working with presenters to bring a collection of masterpieces to theaters around the world. Presenters have access to more than 20 of Mr. Taylor's dances selected from seven decades in nine exclusive programs. In addition to many of his masterpieces, like Esplanade (1975), Company B (1991) and Promethean Fire (2002), repertory will also include 3 Epitaphs (1956), Brief Encounters (2010), Concertiana (2018), Fibers (1961), Junction (1961), Last Look (1985), Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rehearsal) (1980), Scudorama (1962), Sunset (1983), Syzygy (1987), Speaking in Tongues (1988) and Tracer (1962) among many others.

The Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, TX - one of PTDC's longtime presenting partners -- will launch the tour in February 2019. Following is a list of Celebration Tour dates scheduled for PTDC and Taylor 2; many more are being negotiated.

PTDC Performances*:

Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, TX on February 9, 2019

Byham Theater, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in Pittsburgh, PA on February 23, 2019

LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura in Lugano, Switzerland on February 26, 2019

Teatro Communale Citta d'Vicenza in Vicenza, Italy on February 28, 2019

Todi Teatro Communale in Todi, Italy on March 3, 2019

Teatro Grande in Brescia, Italy on March 7, 2019

Tanzwochen Stadthalle in Neuss, Germany on March 12, 2019

Metropol Theater in Bremen, Germany on March 15-16, 2019

Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on March 19-20, 2019

Duncan Theater at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, FL on March 22-23, 2019

Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL on April 17, 2019

Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in Tivoli, NY on May 18, 2019

Orpheum Theater at the Omaha Performing Arts in Omaha, NE on April 20, 2019

Reynolds Theater, presented by the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC on June 27-29, 2019

Florence Dance Festival: Pala de Andre in Florence, Italy on July 13, 2019

Fire Island Dance Festival, presented by Dancer's Responding to AIDS in Fire Island Pines, NY on July 20-21, 2019

Ted Shawn Theater at Jacob's Pillow in Becket, MA on July 25-28, 2019

Chautauqua Amphitheatre in Chautauqua, NY on August 5-10, 2019

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA on October 10-12, 2019

Lincoln Center Season - Davd H. Koch Theater in New York, NY on October 29-November 17, 2019

Olmsted Hall at Adelphi University (NYSCA Residency Performance) in Garden City, NY on December 13, 2019

Taylor 2 Performances*:

Williams Center for the Arts in Easton, PA on February 13, 2019

Hartt School of Dance (Residency) in Hartford, CT on March 4 - 6, 2019 and March 25 - 30, 2019

Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in Tivoli, NY on April 6, 2019
The Berkshire School (Residency) in Great Barrington, MA on April 8, 2019

Reynolds Theater, presented by the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC on June 13-15, 2019

Bercel Castle and Bercel Cultural Center in Bercel, Hungary on May 31-June 8, 2019

Provincetown Town Hall in Provincetown, MA on June 30, 2019

The Yard in Chillmark, MA July 2, 2019

*All tour dates subject to change.

One of the highlights of the celebration will be the annual Paul Taylor American Modern Dance New York Season at Lincoln Center, October 29 through November 17, 2019. The Season will include dances by critically acclaimed choreographers Kyle Abraham, Margie Gillis and Pam Tanowitz - the final choreographers Mr. Taylor commissioned to create dances on his Company. Additional Season details will be released in the New Year.

Another special component of "Paul Taylor: Celebrate the Dancemaker" enables PTDF to license Mr. Taylor's masterpieces at significantly reduced rates in order to make his works available for dance companies, academic institutions and presenters so they may be seen and appreciated by as wide an audience as possible.

Leadership funding provided by The SHS Foundation. Major funding provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation and Shubert Foundation. Public support provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. National Touring is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Paul Taylor Dance Foundation comprises the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Taylor 2, the Paul Taylor Archives and The Taylor School. Since its founding in 1954, the Company has performed in more than 500 cities in 64 nations. Taylor 2, established in 1993, teaches, provides community outreach and ensures that Mr. Taylor's dances can be seen in smaller venues that are unable to accommodate the larger Company. During his lifetime, Mr. Taylor choreographed 147 dances - many of which have attained iconic status. His celebrated autobiography, Private Domain, was published in 1987, and he was the subject of the 1998 Oscar-nominated feature-length documentary, "Dancemaker." A book of essays mostly for fun called Facts and Fancies was written by Mr. Taylor in 2013. Among the many accolades he received are the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts. In May 2018, Mr. Taylor named PTDC Member Michael Novak as Artistic Director Designate and he was appointed Artistic Director following Mr. Taylor's death in August 2018.