For decades, the development of American modern dance was largely seen as a reaction to classicism. But many other forces drove modern pioneers’ art. “At the heart of modernism, there is trauma,” says art historian Bruce Robertson. Robertson­ and dance historian Ninotchka Bennahum are the curators behind the New York Public Library for the Performing­ Arts’ exhibit “Border Crossings: Exile and American Modern Dance, 1900–1955,” which recognizes the foundational—and often overlooked—contributions that marginalized dancers, including Limón, made to the development of American modern dance.

There’s much more to stillness than simply the absence of movement. For dancers used to near-constant motion, being still can be a physical, mental and emotional challenge.

Paul Taylor’s Post Meridian was last performed 30 years ago, which is well before any of the company’s current dancers joined Paul Taylor Dance Company. In fact, it’s before some of the dancers were even born. Every step and extreme angle of the body in the dream-like world of the 1965 work will be fine-tuned […]

After joining the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2010, Michael Novak quickly became a critic’s favorite for his quiet power onstage. But no one was more surprised than Novak when Taylor tapped him to be his successor last year, three months before the legendary choreographer died. Dance Magazine recently caught up with Novak during the […]

Dancer/choreographer Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie‘s background is a melting pot of cultures from all over the world—which you can vividly see reflected in her work. But the recent Harkness Promise Awardee attributes the cross-pollination of genres in her work to more than just her background. The choreographer says her eclectic style is deeply inspired by the […]

Since starting his company in 1968, Lar Lubovitch has stood at the forefront of modern dance—although he is hesitant to label his work as “modern.” “I’ve always felt I’ve been making dances,” he says. “I’ve always called them dances and I’ve never been one to exclude any language of movement. When I’m making a dance […]

Dance Theatre of Harlem is busy preparing for the company’s Vision Gala on April 4. The works on the program, which takes place on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and his impact on company founder Arthur Mitchell. Among them is the […]

Stephen Petronio brings a bracing season to New York City’s Joyce Theater, where he has performed almost every year for 24 years. His work is exciting to the subscription audience as well as to many dance artists. He delves into movement invention at the same time as creating complex postmodern forms. The new work, Hardness […]