Paul Taylor's Lifetime Achievements and Contributions to Dance.

Paul Taylor has not only contributed widely, his ideas to modern dance, he has also gained the respect and made such impressions on other famous dancers consisting of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, and George Balanchine.

Paul Taylor first founded his own dance company in 1954 which is now in its 60th season. The Paul Taylor Dance Company has a long history, having preformed in 500 cities in 62 countries, 90 pieces in which Taylor has personally choreographed. To this day the company tours during most of the performing season in American Cities. Famous dancers have grown from the Paul Taylor Dance Company, including Twyla Tharp, and since 1954 Taylor has created 139 dances. What distinguished Paul Taylor's Choreography from the rest was the use of everyday movements or pedestrian movements, rather then dance movements. The themes of Taylor's works do not come from his experiences, rather things he has learned or seen or read about; and also the extremes of individual's feelings and interactions with each other. "  One of his most famous and most signature works to this day includes the classic Esplanade. 

Historic dancers Martha Graham and José Limón took Taylor under their wings and in 1955 he began his studies and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company as a soloist. Taylor also had the opportunity to work with Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine who had created work specifically for Taylor, soloist work "Episodes" in 1959 when Balanchine invited Taylor to be a guest artist with the New York City Ballet. Since working with various artists Paul Taylor has received almost every important award an artist could in their lifetime. He has received numerous Lifetime Achievement awards and has been awarded by President Clinton for the National Medal of Arts. Among these two, he has also received an Emmy Award, he was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, and Taylor was also awarded Frances highest honor, "the Légion d'Honneur, in 2000 for exceptional contributions to French culture." Paul Taylor Dance Company http://ptdc.org/artists-dances/paul-taylor/

And still, to this day Paul Taylor will always be one of the most glorified and remembered performers and choreographers all across the world.

Citations:

http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2014/Taylor-made

Paul Taylor Dance Company<http://ptdc.org/artists-dances/paul-taylor/>

Bedinghaus, Treva "Paul Taylor"<http://dance.about.com/od/famousdancers/p/Paul_Taylor.htm>

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Taylor_(choreographer)> 

Paul Taylor. bigoraphy <http://www.biography.com/people/paul-taylor-41059> 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHkciz_yYYI

Draper, Sarah

Brief Biography of Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor was born July 29, 1930 in Wilkinsburg, PA. He is known as an American modern dancer and choreographer familiar for his inventive, commonly humorous dances that he choreographed for his company. He enrolled into Syracuse University in 1947 on swimming and painting scholarships. Paul Taylor began his dance training in 1951. He later studied modern dance with Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and José Limón. He began his professional career in 1953 with Martha Graham’s company, creating such important roles as Aegisthus in Clytemnestra in 1958, Hercules in Alcestis in 1960, and Theseus in Phaedra in 1962. He also performed in works by other modern choreographers, including those of Charles Weidman and Merce Cunningham. He danced a solo created for him by George Balanchine in Episodes in 1959.   His company is currently in its 60th season premiering two new works. 
No longer dancing himself, Taylor has spent the past two decades devoted completely to directing his company and teaching the younger generations the rigors and beauty of dance. Taylor continues to find his inspiration both in the streets and in the studio. For him, watching the dancers move and responding to those movements is an essential part of his work. In this way the choreography becomes both an individual and communal endeavor. Among the dancers to move through his company on the way to starting their own were Laura Dean, Twyla Tharp, Dan Wagoner, and Senta Driver. Through these students and through the continued productions of his dance company, Paul Taylor’s work continues to inspire people throughout the world.

Citations:

http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/February-2014/Taylor-made

http://ptdc.org/artists-dances/paul-taylor/  
http://www.biography.com/people/paul-taylor-41059#awesm=~oC4iqRUWIj53Zh

Chanos, Carissa