Paul Taylor: the modern dance master whose moves made you feel alive

The omnivorous and eclectic choreographer who has died aged 88, represented the last of a historic line

In the world of dance, the death of choreographer Paul Taylor marks not only the end of a long and productive career – he put together his first dance company in 1954 and his last work (147th) premiered in March 2018 – but it also feels like the end of an era. The history of American modern dance might go something like this: first came Isadora Duncan, casting off the corsetry of European ballet; then there was Martha Graham, high priestess of mythic psychodrama and female pelvic power; then Merce Cunningham rose to become the zen master of choreographic abstraction; and after that everything went postmodern and there was no centre any more. But right before that came Paul Taylor, who danced with both Graham and Cunningham before venturing forth himself – and so represents the last of a historic line.

Related: Paul Taylor, celebrated dancer and choreographer, dies aged 88

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from Culture | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2ws4A12