Tonight, the Paul Taylor Dance Company comes to the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh. There is so much to say about Taylor and the Company. In fact, I have too much to say. Recent reading activity has included Taylor's autobiography, Private Domain. In addition to comments on the creation process, he also refers to the demands of a touring company, abstractions of descents into recklessness, and the work ethic needed to continually innovate. This is all told in a truly unique voice that is witty, sharp, and alternatingly detailed and vague.
A recent viewing of Dancemaker, the Matthew Diamond documentary on the company, shows a later stage company working through lineup changes, touring, and new dances.
Taylor danced with Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and George Balanchine before (and sometimes while) he formed his own company in 1954. He bucked a lot of trends. One of which was music choice. Instead of using the electronic and more freeform sounding (if not in actual process) accompaniment, he often opted for records that were lying around: Bach, Boyce, Debussy, Handel, Schubert.
The company will perform three pieces tonight.
Mercuric Tidings (1982), music: Schubert / excerpts from Symphonies 1&2, costumes: Santo Loquasto, lighting: Jennifer Tipton
Three Dubious Memories (2010), music: Peter Elyakim Taussig / Five Enigmas (movements 1,3,4,5), costumes: Santo Loquasto, lighting: Jennifer Tipton
Piazzolla Caldera (1997), music: Astor Piazzolla and Jerzy Peterburshsky / El Sol Sueno, Concierto Para Quinteto / Celos / Escualo, costumes: Santo Loquasto, lighting: Jennifer Tipton
Byham Theater, Saturday, October 22, 2011, at 8:00 p.m
Tickets ($19-$50) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666.
A few clips:
