One of the most remarkable artistic partnerships in the world of dance emerged when renowned choreographer Paul Taylor joined forces with the esteemed artist Alex Katz. Their collaboration spanned an impressive 16 dances, beginning in 1960.
In his memoir Invented Symbols, Katz describes the collaboration: “I had seen Paul dance for the first time shortly before we met with Edwin [Denby] and thought his choreography was one of the most surprising things I had seen as an artist. Paul’s dancing seemed to be a real break with that of the previous generation: no expression, no content, no form, as he said, and with great technique and intelligence.”
Katz sums up their decades-long collaboration: “I learned a lot doing sets and costumes in terms of scale. I learned a lot from Paul in terms of gestures and relationships between people. I learned from Paul that all your pieces don’t have to be the same. I learned from Paul never to be complacent towards the public. I learned a lot from Paul in terms of styling ideas. I learned a lot from Paul that the one person you don’t want to bore is yourself.”
With Paul’s groundbreaking choreography and Katz’s captivating sets and costumes, this extraordinary alliance between two visionary artists has left an indelible mark on the world of dance. Explore the dynamic fusion of their artistic minds as you immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of their collaborative works.
Paul Taylor X Alex Katz Collaborations
Meridian, 1960, music by Morton Feldman
Junction, 1961, music by Johann Sebastian Bach, lighting by William Ritman
Red Room, 1963, music by Gunther Schuller
Scudorama, 1963, music by Clarence Jackson, lighting by Thomas Skelton
Post Meridian, 1965, music by Evelyn Lohoeffer de Boeck, lighting by Thomas Skelton
Orbs, 196, music by Ludwig van Beethoven, lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Private Domain, 1969, music by Iannis Xenakis, lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Foreign Exchange, 1970, music by Morton Subotnick, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, costumes by Alec Sutherland
Polaris, 1976, music by Donald York, lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Diggity, 1978, music by Donald York, lighting by Mark Litvin
Lost, Found Lost, 1982, “Elevator” music arranged by Donald York, lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Sunset, 1983, music by Edward Elgar (and recorded loon calls), lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Last Look, 1985, music by Donald York, lighting by Jennifer Tipton
Ab Ovo Usque Ad Mala (From Soup to Nuts), 1986, music by P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Schickele), lighting by Jennifer Tipton
‘Oh, I’ll Show You’: Paul Taylor and Alex Katz’s Long Collaboration
There were egos and clashes, but the choreographer and painter made 16 dances together over more than 50 years.
'I'd never seen anything like it': Alex Katz on dance titan Paul Taylor
Artist Alex Katz collaborated for more than 20 years with Paul Taylor. Following Taylor’s death at 88, Katz remembers their quiet and once combative partnership
Resources:
Alex Katz: Theater & Dance | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
Contributions by Charles L. Reinhart and David Salle and Robert Storr and Jennifer Tipton and Diana Tuite, Published by Rizzoli
PHOTO CREDITS (top to bottom | left to right) Header Photo of the Company in Polaris, Ruven Afanador; Paul Taylor, 1959. Oil on linen by Alex Katz; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum façade, Colby College Museum of Art building.
