Syracuse University

Paul Taylor Dance Company

SU and SSO present Paul Taylor Dance Company performances

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Paul Taylor Dance Company residency celebrates founder's 80th birthday

Syracuse University and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) co-produced public performances by the world-renowned Paul Taylor Dance Company Nov. 6 and 7 in the Mulroy Civic Center Theater at Oncenter. The performances by the Taylor 2 dance ensemble marked the end of a three-week residency at SU by the troupe, as well as the start of a year-long celebration of the 80th birthday of founder and choreographer Paul Taylor H'86.  Read more.

Photo credit: Tom Caravaglia

Paul Taylor H'86

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A legend in modern dance

At an age when most artists' best work is behind them, Paul Taylor H'86 continues to earn acclaim for the vibrancy, relevance, and power of his dances. In a career that has spanned more than half a century, Taylor has earned world-wide renown for his spectacular creativity in modern dance. He was a swimmer and student of painting at Syracuse University in the late 1940s—then discovered dance and studied at the Juilliard School. His trailblazing career began when he joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1955, and since then he has received every important honor given to artists in the United States. Read more.

Photo credit: Maxine Hicks

The New York Times praises the Paul Taylor Dance Company's performance with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra

"The very stuff of theater poetry," said The New York Times reviewer Alastair Macaulay of the Paul Taylor Dance Company's performance with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in the Mulroy Civic Center Theater at Oncenter. The Syracuse Post-Standard also had high praise for the performance.

Co-produced by SU and the SSO, the event featured performances of "Also Playing" (set to the music of Donizetti) and "Cascade" (set to the music of Bach), and the world premiere of the Syracuse University-commissioned "Brief Encounters" (set to the music of Debussy).

Under the direction of guest conductor David LaMarche, the SSO played live music as the Paul Taylor Dance Company performed the three works choreographed by Taylor. "Cascade" featured pianists Steven Heyman and Fred Karpoff, both faculty members in VPA's Setnor School of Music.