Merce Cunningham

Paul Belville Taylor Jr. was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania on July 29, 1930. He attended Syracuse University on a swimming scholarship, but his interest changed to dance. He studied dance at the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College and at the Juilliard School in New York. He became a modern dancer and choreographer.

He began his professional career in 1953, dancing with the Martha Graham company, where he created such roles as Aegisthus in Clytemnestra and Hercules in Alcestis. Taylor began choreographing his own work in 1954 and formed the Paul Taylor Dance Company that same year. He created numerous dances for his company including Aureole, Esplanade, Runes, Cloven Kingdom, Big Bertha, Airs, and Arden Court. He was known for his use of a wide variety of movement styles and the rare sense of humor displayed in many of his dances. He retired from dancing in 1974 but continued to devote his talent and energy to his dance company. His autobiography, Private Domain, was published in 1987. He died from renal failure on August 29, 2018 at the age of 88.

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