Paul Taylor cultivated many brilliant dancers during his 60-plus-year career, but seldom have any commanded such a place of authority and artistry as Michael Trusnovec. He models what it takes to become a great Taylor dancer: weight of movement, thorough grasp of style, deep concentration, steadfast partnering, complete dedication to the choreography and a nuanced […]

Usually, it takes new recruits a few seasons to make their mark at the Paul Taylor Dance Company. But Taylor wasted no time in honing in on the talents of Alex Clayton. Only a few months after Clayton joined in June 2017, Taylor created an exciting solo for him in his new Concertiana, filled with […]

The news of Paul Taylor’s death two weeks ago at the age of 88 has sparked innumerable tributes to the choreographer. We were inspired to delve into Dance Magazine‘s extensive photo archives to see what images of the late modern dance titan were hiding there. We present a baker’s dozen of our favorites from over […]

A person’s walk is like a fingerprint, according to four Paul Taylor dancers who are stepping on without their beloved choreographer. Taylor died August 29, passing the legacy of Paul Taylor American Modern Dance to Michael Novak, the second artistic director in the company’s history. “Human movement never lies,” says Novak, who sometimes slipped into […]

Yesterday, modern dance giant Paul Taylor passed away. He had turned 88 at the end of July. Considered the last of the 20th-century modern dance titans, Taylor celebrated the 60th anniversary of his company in 2014. A prolific dancemaker, he continued to make new works into his final year, the last of which premiered during […]

A quiet power has marked Michael Novak’s dancing since he joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2010. Long a critics’ favorite, he has gracefully shared the spotlight with higher-profile performers, contributing steady excellence to works from Gossamer Gallants to the iconic Esplanade. But no one was more surprised than Novak when Taylor tapped him […]

For 17 years, James Samson has been the model Paul Taylor dancer. There is something fundamentally decent about his stage persona. He’s a tall dancer—six feet—but never imposes himself. He’s muscular, but gentle. And when he moves, it is his humanity that shines through, even more than his technique. But all dancing careers come to […]

It’s been a long time coming. Paul Taylor, who at 87 is still actively making dances, has named the person who will succeed him at the head of the various organizations that bear his name: Paul Taylor Dance Company member Michael Novak. The announcement has come with no small amount of surprise, as longtime PTDC […]