Paul Taylor’s New England Premiere of “Perpetual Dawn” at Mahaiwe
8:00 pm • Friday, May 24th 2013
8:00 pm • Saturday, May 25th 2013
3:00 pm • Sunday, May 26th 2013
7:00 pm • Sunday, May 26th 2013
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center • Great Barrington (MA)
Despite what the calendar says, and perhaps the weather, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer. And for its sixth consecutive summer season, the Paul Taylor Dance Company returns to the Mahaiwe.
In its wonderful festival weekend of modern dance, the renowned Company performs the New England premiere of dance maker Taylor’s Perpetual Dawn in which young people are depicted experiencing the awakening of love, perhaps for the first time. This new work is set to sprightly concertos by Baroque composer Johann David Heinichen.
Perpetual Dawn will be featured in the Saturday evening and Sunday evening performances.
photo by Maxine Hicks
Paul Taylor is the last living member of the pantheon that created America’s indigenous art of modern dance. At an age when most artists’ best work is behind them, Mr. Taylor continues to win public and critical acclaim for the vibrancy, relevance and power of his creations. As he has since his origins as a dance maker in 1954, he offers cogent observations on life’s complexities while tackling some of society’s thorniest issues. While he may propel his dancers through space for the sheer beauty of it, he more frequently uses them to illuminate such profound issues as war, piety, spirituality, sexuality, morality and mortality. If, as George Balanchine said, there are no mothers-in-law in ballet, there certainly are dysfunctional families, disillusioned idealists, imperfect religious leaders, angels and insects in Mr. Taylor’s dances.
Other dances to be performed over the weekend are:
Last Look: Music by Donald York
(Saturday night and Sunday night)
Whether triggered by nuclear devastation or biological catastrophe, Armageddon has arrived, and the doomed protagonists in this relentless work find no escape. A frightening vision of urban apocalypse.
Cascade: Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
(Saturday night and Sunday night)
The unlikely collaboration between a German composer from musics Baroque era, JS Bach, and an American modern dance pioneer resulted in this elegant work in which men are reverential to women. The dance features highly energetic, free and open movement with complex patterns.
Kith and Kin: Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(Friday night and Sunday afternoon)
A mature couple takes younger friends and relations through their paces. Set to a Mozart Serenade, the buoyant choreography suggests Taylors take on 18th Century court dances with a scotch-hopping, leap-frogging and heel-clicking joie de vivre.
Lost, Found and Lost: Elevator music arranged by Donald York
(Friday night and Sunday afternoon)
A study in natural posture, gesture and ennui, in which the simple, frustrating act of standing in line becomes rich comic fodder. The dance had its genesis in Taylor’s legendary 1957 work, Seven New Dances.
Offenbach Overtures: Music by Jacques Offenbach
(Friday night and Sunday afternoon)
In this comedy of French manners, dueling officers realize that discretion is the better part of valor, leaving their seconds to slug it out.
Here’s wrap of the Paul Taylor Dance Company weekend at the Mahaiwe:
- Friday at 8 pm: Kith and Kin / Lost, Found and Lost / Offenbach Overtures
- Saturday at 8 pm: Perpetual Dawn / Last Look / Cascade
- Sunday at 3 pm: Kith and Kin / Lost, Found and Lost / Offenbach Overtures
- Sunday at 7 pm: Perpetual Dawn / Last Look / Cascade
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Of Interest to Professional Dancers:
The Paul Taylor Dance Foundation will hold auditions by appointment on Friday, June 28. Mr. Taylor seeks one woman for Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company. More information can be found here.
Other Upcoming Events
Friday, May 24th 2013 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 25th 2013 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 26th 2013 at 3:00 pm
Sunday, May 26th 2013 at 7:00 pm
Tuesday, July 9th 2013 at 8:00 pm
Wednesday, July 10th 2013 at 8:00 pm
Thursday, July 11th 2013 at 2:00 pm
