More wonderful dance reviews in the NYTimes this week of Paul Taylor's company. He has always been one of my favorite choreographers-- brilliant, very sensitive to music; his lyrical, energetic Esplanade is a favorite. Set to Bach....so beautifully.
Taylor has a dark side, and sometimes I can't quite follow where he is taking us...also a playful side which occasionally veers toward the outright silly--- but he is always worthy of attention. And his dancers are marvels. I remember seeing Paul and Dan Wagoner in the early days, dancing his choreography at the American Dance Festival--particularly in Aureole and Big Bertha (with the marvelous Bette De Jong and sprightly Carolyn Brown). The men were both large, muscular, and yet as light as helium.... amazing to watch. I've no doubt stolen an idea or two from Paul Taylor--the large expansive, ground devouring lunges, the use of everyday movement to define space and energy.
This trip down memory lane also brings back memories of Merce Cunningham way back when -- what a lovely, gentle man he was as a teacher--but like a lion on stage! Utterly commanding. And funny! I loved his Antic Meet, wearing the chair on his back! I took two classes a day from him; the only way I was allowed to take his Advanced class (because I had so little prior training) was to take his Beginner class every day as well. His company was small -- (in those days they toured in an VW bus!) Carolyn Brown, so vividly beautiful, so amazingly articulate... Viola Farber and Remy Charlip--each unique and a treasure. I knew two other dancers who later danced with him-- One--a lovely woman who danced in my choreography at Indiana University ... she wasanother one was Trish Lent -- formerly of my company, Choreo,Inc. Smart, cool, incredibly gifted dancer.
Meanwhile, across the street is a stunning old barn; if I were a painter, I would be painting it every day. The snow is melting here and there --off the metal roof and the cows were out in the pasture --so I guess they can get to the grass......Spring is in the air. Mud season here!
Taylor has a dark side, and sometimes I can't quite follow where he is taking us...also a playful side which occasionally veers toward the outright silly--- but he is always worthy of attention. And his dancers are marvels. I remember seeing Paul and Dan Wagoner in the early days, dancing his choreography at the American Dance Festival--particularly in Aureole and Big Bertha (with the marvelous Bette De Jong and sprightly Carolyn Brown). The men were both large, muscular, and yet as light as helium.... amazing to watch. I've no doubt stolen an idea or two from Paul Taylor--the large expansive, ground devouring lunges, the use of everyday movement to define space and energy.
This trip down memory lane also brings back memories of Merce Cunningham way back when -- what a lovely, gentle man he was as a teacher--but like a lion on stage! Utterly commanding. And funny! I loved his Antic Meet, wearing the chair on his back! I took two classes a day from him; the only way I was allowed to take his Advanced class (because I had so little prior training) was to take his Beginner class every day as well. His company was small -- (in those days they toured in an VW bus!) Carolyn Brown, so vividly beautiful, so amazingly articulate... Viola Farber and Remy Charlip--each unique and a treasure. I knew two other dancers who later danced with him-- One--a lovely woman who danced in my choreography at Indiana University ... she wasanother one was Trish Lent -- formerly of my company, Choreo,Inc. Smart, cool, incredibly gifted dancer.
Meanwhile, across the street is a stunning old barn; if I were a painter, I would be painting it every day. The snow is melting here and there --off the metal roof and the cows were out in the pasture --so I guess they can get to the grass......Spring is in the air. Mud season here!