Paul Taylor Connections

The Washington Post proclaimed “No modern choreographer is as versatile, witty, menacing and physically joyful as Paul Taylor.” Taylor was one of the most influential figures in modern dance, inviting audiences to find joy and beauty in everyday movements like walking, skipping, and running. Following Taylor’s passing in 2018, Paul Taylor Dance Company continues the choreographer’s tradition of bringing audiences into their world.

Taylor’s career intersected with the Pillow’s history at several points throughout time, often falling during landmark anniversaries and celebrations. The moments create a tapestry of connections, demonstrating Taylor’s deep engagement with the Pillow, extending beyond performances to School programming, exhibitions, PillowTalks, and more.

Taylor first visited the Pillow in 1954 as a dancer with the Pearl Lang Dance Company, and returned 10 years later for the Pillow debut of his company, an engagement that coincided with the 50th anniversary celebration of Pillow founder Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis. The company’s 1964 performances also marked the professional debut of Twyla Tharp, who became a renowned choreographer in her own right.

Paul Taylor Dance Company would go on to perform in 16 Festivals during Taylor’s lifetime, presenting masterworks such as Aureole, Company B, and Esplanade. The junior company, Taylor 2, made its world debut at the Pillow in 1993.

In 2000, in honor of Taylor’s 70th birthday, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Taylor 2 performed simultaneously in the Ted Shawn Theatre and the Doris Duke Theatre, marking the first and only time that a single choreographer has been concurrently presented on both of the Pillow’s indoor stages. That same year, the Pillow hosted the first exhibition of Taylor’s visual art in Assemblages, a collection of collages and found objects.

Taylor’s engagement with the Pillow extended beyond performances, representing his breadth of connections throughout time. In 1982, Paul Taylor Dance Company led a workshop in The School, marking the first educational program devoted to a single choreographer. The company would lead workshops again in 1983 and 1996, and Taylor’s technique and repertory would continue to feature strongly in the School’s programs during several Festivals until 2006. More than a dozen School alumni have gone on to dance with Paul Taylor Dance Company, a testament to Taylor’s commitment to fostering artistic voices emerging from the Pillow.

In 2017, the company returned to perform in the Ted Shawn Theatre with a program including Airs, Syzygy, and Esplanade, marking the company’s last Pillow engagement before Taylor’s death in 2018. They returned in 2019 under the direction of Michael Novak, a director hand-picked by Taylor prior to his passing, and this most recent engagement included Aureole, Concertiana, and Promethean Fire.

During his six-decade-long career, Taylor’s visits to the Pillow coincided with significant moments in both Taylor’s career and the Pillow’s history. These moments paint a picture of connection, one that continues as Paul Taylor Dance Company returns to the Ted Shawn Theatre for Festival 2026.

This Pillow Pick was written by Lucy Kudlinski and published on June 5, 2026.