A Visit to Lincoln Center (Part 2 of 2)

Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance:

Another recent evening found us back at Lincoln Center to see Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance.

Lincoln Center:  David H. Koch Theater (exterior), home of the New York City Opera and venue for other dance companies, including Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance

Lincoln Center:  David H. Koch Theater (interior)

Paul Taylor is a highly regarded choreographer of American modern dance.  He was a protege of the legendary choreographer Martha Graham.  He danced in her company and danced with her.  His style of choreography resembles hers.

On the evening we attended, three dances were performed: 

• Diversion of Angels (Martha Graham, 1948)
• Three Dubious Memories (Paul Taylor, 2010)
• Spindrift (Paul Taylor, 1993)

The 16-dancer troupe was beautiful to watch.  While the dancers were diverse in appearance and personality, all were well schooled in the Graham/Taylor style of dancing and all were very muscular.  (Susan especially enjoyed watching the partially clothed male dancers, with their rippled arms, pecs, abs and legs.  For Greg, it was like looking in a mirror.)

The style of dance is not easy to describe.  Words that come to mind are:  powerful, fluid, sensual and emotional.  For a taste of Paul Taylor's choreography, click here.

Each dance performed that evening shared a similar style but each told a different story.  The most entertaining story was Three Dubious Memories, which told about a love triangle with two men fighting over a woman.  The same story is repeated three times, with the woman's version being the most humorous since the two men, in the woman's view, were more friendly and attentive to each other than to her.  According to the Paul Taylor website, "With this dance, Mr. Taylor explores the subjective nature of memory. He dramatically illustrates that events may be recalled differently by various participants, each of whom believes in the accuracy of their own version. 'The mind remembers facts the way it wants them to be,' according to the dance maker."

The evening ended with 84 year old Paul Taylor joining the troupe for one of the many curtain calls.  While a bit stooped, Mr. Taylor still moved with fluid grace.

 

Martha Graham with Paul Taylor, 1960.  Martha Graham was 66 years old when the photo was taken.  Not bad for "senior citizen".

Paul Taylor, 2011