Two New Dancers Asked To Join The Paul Taylor Dance Company

At an audition attended by 100 men held on September 2 and 3, Devon Louis and Paul Giarratano were selected by Artistic Director Designate Michael Novak to join the world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Devon Louis, who hails from Washington, DC, is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He attended the Ailey School as a recipient of the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship, and furthered his dance education at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival under the direction of Milton Myers. Mr. Louis has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Matthew Rushing, Christopher Huggins, Nathan Trice, Ronald K. Brown and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He has also performed as a member of Ballet Hispanico's junior company, BHdos; The Metropolitan Opera; and Nimbus Dance Works.

Paul Giarratano was born and raised on Long Island, New York. He attended Purchase College of the State University of New York, graduating with a B.F.A. degree in Dance with a minor in Arts Management. While there he performed works by Doug Varone, Larry Keigwin, Loni Landon, Gregory Dolbashian and Brian Enos. He also studied a semester abroad at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Mr. Giarratano attended the 2015 Taylor Winter Intensive, and danced for two seasons with Spectrum Dance Theater + Donald Byrd.

"I am thrilled to welcome to Devon and Paul to the Taylor Foundation. They are dynamic and captivating artists who will make wonderful additions to our incredible company," said Paul Taylor Artistic Director Michael Novak.

Mr. Louis and Mr. Giarratano will make their debut performance with the Paul Taylor Dance Company at the Fall For Dance Festival at City Center in New York City on October 3, 2018.

The Paul Taylor Dance Company is one of the world's most highly acclaimed and sought-after performing arts ensembles. Founded in 1954 by choreographer Paul Taylor, PTDC was led by Mr. Taylor until his death at 88 in 2018, after which dancer Michael Novak became Artistic Director. The Company performs Mr. Taylor's repertoire, comprising 147 dances, as well as those by other choreographers, and has toured to more than 500 cities in 64 countries around the globe. The 2019 Season marks PTDC's 65th Anniversary.

To post a comment, you must register and login.