Why I Care

There are a myriad of reasons why I have a reverence towards the work of Paul Taylor and the influence that he has had on the world of modern dance.  The main reason that I am so drawn to his work is his ability to have a social commentary about his work in a powerful and moving way that strays away from politics and the often stoic nature of that aspect of our society here in America.  He is able to successfully combine dark and serious and witty and funny in a way that is always natural and inventive.  Because of his revolutionary approach to choreography and movement, he is an artist that I greatly admire and appreciate for his contribution to what dance is today.

One characteristic of Paul’s work that I find to be fascinating is his sense of humor.  It is so subtle and yet so obvious such as in the work “From Sea to Shining Sea” where he pokes fun and questions the icons found in American culture.  What makes him so unique is the fact that he doesn’t just make statements solely to say what his opinions are, but he poses questions for society to ponder on many touchy subjects that we often don’t like to talk about in society.  When I am choreographing I find myself making dances that are serious and about personal experience.  I think I can learn a lot from Paul about using my personal experiences to be inquisitive and look more at the subtleties of life.  Taylor often uses pedestrian movements to inspire his choreography like in “Esplanade.”  This was one of my favorite pieces of his with the beautiful movement quality and the structure that the 5 different sections employed. 

The public needs to take note of Paul Taylor and his contribution to dance because of the sheer scope of his work.  He is over 80 years old and has been making dances since a young age.  By seeing his dances over the years, you can see the history and events in society that were the driving force for his work.  Looking at his dances, you can see the social commentary and the emotions that were felt at the time the dance was made.  It is fascinating that his dances have such a resonance and connection with our history and our social culture because he himself has described his work as being something purely for him and not for society, yet it has so much impact for society. Today, it is easy to see the influence that Paul Taylor has had on the dance world.  He is still making dances at such an old age and doesn't intend to stop.  I admire how driven and passionate he is about making dances and know that learning more about him will forever impact me as an artist.