The Paul Taylor Dance Company‘s (PTDC) 2023 Season at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center took place from October 31 through November 12, 2023. It included fourteen dances by five choreographers: Ulysses Dove, Amy Hall Garner, Larry Keigwin, Lauren Lovette, and Paul Taylor. The season also featured world premieres by Lovette, PTDC’s Resident Choreographer, and Keigwin, Taylor Company Commissioned choreographer. Music on all programs was performed live by Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL), conducted by Taylor Music Director David LaMarche and Tara Simoncic.
Artistic Director Michael Novak presented four works by three choreographers:
– Lauren Lovette’s “Dreamachine” made its New York premiere. It is set to Michael Daugherty’s percussion suite of that name, with set and costumes by Santo Loquasto and lighting by Jennifer Tipton. It also included the world premiere of a new section created for New York and featuring Daugherty’s score performed by OSL.
– Lovette’s “Echo,” created for the men of the Taylor Company, had its world premiere. It is set to Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts’s “Contact” and was be performed live by OSL and the 2023 Grammy Award-winning trio Time for Three. Echo featured costumes designed by fashion designer Zac Posen and lighting by James F. Ingalls. Complementing “Echo” was a dance featuring the women of the Taylor Company: Ulysses Dove’s 1986 work “Vespers,” set to music by Mikel Rouse and staged by the late choreographer’s brother, Alfred Dove.
– Larry Keigwin premiered his second PTDC work, “Drum Circle,” set to a score by Argentine composer William Catanzaro and performed live by multi-percussionist trio CHAIN. Drum Circle has costumes by William Ivey Long and lighting by James F. Ingalls.
– Amy Hall Garner’s “Somewhere in the Middle” returned following its premiere performances last season. It is set to the music of Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, and Bill Evans, and has costumes by Mark Eric, set by Donald Martiny, and lighting by Jennifer Tipton.
The season also featured nine Paul Taylor classics spanning thirty years of creativity: “Book of Beasts” (1971), “Esplanade” (1975), “Cloven Kingdom” (1976), “Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rehearsal)” (1980), “Mercuric Tidings” (1982), “Last Look” (1985), “Eventide” (1997), “Piazzolla Caldera” (1997), and “Black Tuesday” (2001).
Artistic Director Michael Novak was excited about creating collaborations between music and dance with Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Both Lauren Lovette and Larry Keigwin are choreographing their works with musicians performing on stage. Novak is committed to showcasing interdisciplinary collaborations for Lincoln Center, and this season deliveered visually stunning and daring theatrical works.
The 2023 Gala performance took place on Thursday, November 2, at 7pm featuring the world premiere of Lovette’s “Echo” and Taylor’s “Mercuric Tidings.” Vanessa Williams, Honorary Chair of the Gala and Co-Chairs Caroline Cronson and Jonna Mackin, hosted this special event honoring Dimitra Manis, Executive Vice President and Chief Purpose Officer of S&P Global. Echo costume designer Zac Posen made a special guest appearance.
PTDC’s 2023 Season included unique ticketing opportunities such as “$20 Under 40,” Arnhold Tier 3, and Polaris Project, which underscores Novak’s commitment to breaking down barriers and making exceptional dance experiences accessible to the widest possible audience with an emphasis on younger generations.
