The Paul Taylor Dance Company is one of the most famous modern dance ensembles and has been innovating and transforming modern dance since 1954. Founder Paul Taylor (1930-2018) created 147 dances that cover a broad range of topics, themes, and moods. This summer, the Company, now under the artistic leadership of Michael Novak, performs Taylor’s energetic Syzygy, awe-inspiring Airs, and concludes with Taylor’s unforgettable Esplanade.
“The American spirit soars whenever Taylor’s dancers dance.” – San Francisco Chronicle
A Schaefer Spotlight Series Event
Series Sponsorship provided by Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer. Supporting Sponsorship provided by Broyhill Family Foundation, The Campus Store, Explore Boone, Mast General Store, Goodnight Brothers, SkyBest Communications, Inc., and Appalachian Home Care LLC.
Madelyn Ho and Alex Clayton in Paul Taylor’s “Airs” by Whitney Browne
Tickets
Contact theschaefercenter@appstate.edu, call 800-841-2787 or 828-262-4046, visit the box office at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, or purchase online.
$45 Tier 1
$35 Tier 2
$25 Tier 3
$10 Students (12 and younger)
Parking
Parking can be challenging, particularly for sold-out events. Please allow extra time to park and arrive at the theatre before showtime. See map for parking recommendations.
Accommodations
App State is committed to providing an inclusive experience for individuals with disabilities. If accommodations are needed in order to fully participate on the basis of a disability, contact the Office of Disability Resources (828-262-3056). It is recommended that accommodation requests be made two weeks prior to the event.
About the Company
One of the most iconic and dynamic modern dance ensembles of our time, the Paul Taylor Dance Company has been innovating and transforming the art form of modern dance since 1954. With a history of multidisciplinary collaborations, passionate expression, and thrilling athleticism, the Company is known worldwide for its vast repertory, performing work from the Founder’s canon; new works created by some of today’s most engaging and established choreographers; and important historical dance from the 20th and 21st centuries. Dedicated to sharing modern dance with the broadest possible audience, the Company tours annually, both domestically and internationally, with performances and a variety of educational programs and engagement offerings.
Madelyn Ho in Paul Taylor’s “Syzygy;” photo by Paul B. Goode
About Michael Novak
Michael Novak, a critically acclaimed Paul Taylor dancer from 2010 to 2019, became the second Artistic Director in the history of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation in September 2018, having been chosen by Mr. Taylor to succeed him upon his death. Under Mr. Novak’s direction, the Paul Taylor Dance Company continues to be one of the world’s premier modern dance companies, with robust domestic and international touring; an ever-expanding repertory that includes the Taylor canon, historical masterpieces, and works he commissions; and an annual engagement at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Raised in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Mr. Novak is an alumnus of Columbia University’s School of General Studies, where he received his BA in Dance magna cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was the Keynote Speaker for the Class of 2020.
About Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor (1930-2018) was one of the most accomplished artists this nation has ever produced. He established the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1954, serving as both a virtuoso performer and a trailblazing choreographer until 1974, when he turned exclusively to choreography. During his 64-year career as a dance maker, Mr. Taylor helped define and shape the home-grown American art of modern dance through a matchless repertoire of 147 works with an extraordinary range of subject matter. In 2015 he established Paul Taylor American Modern Dance with the goal of creating an institutional home for modern dance at New York’s Lincoln Center. In addition to presenting Mr. Taylor’s works, PTAMD presents iconic works by great modern choreographers of the past and present, and commissions the dance makers of the 21st Century to work with the Taylor Company, thereby helping to ensure the future of the art form.