Since the China Modern Dance Summit began in July, Beijing has welcomed a number of world-class dance companies, ranging from Taiwanese choreographer Lin Hwai-min's Cloud Gate Dance Theater, to Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal and the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.

Now comes the legendary Paul Taylor.

The 76-year-old choreographer studied with Martha Graham and is the last of that second generation of modern dance masters from the United States, who still produces works with astonishing regularity.

Black Tuesday, presented by the Paul Taylor Dance Company, celebrates the verve of those who lived through the Great Depression and is set to popular songs of the era. (file photo from China Daily)

He has influenced dozens of dancers, many of whom have gone on to become choreographers or established their own troupes. Among them are the above-mentioned Bausch, who studied with Taylor in New York, in 1959; and Lin, who decided on a career in dance after watching one of Taylor's performances in Taipei, in 1973.

It is fitting, therefore, that a scintillating season of modern dance should end with Taylor.

Few 20th century artists have had such a profound impact on their art form as Taylor has had on dance. In Taylor's choreography, the body and its range of movements know no limits. His work creates an awareness of what the body can do, and what dance can be.

Since he created his first avant-garde works in 1954, Taylor has choreographed 125 dances, performed by his companies (including Taylor 2), as well as renowned dance groups in the United States and abroad.

Growing up near Washington, Taylor was a keen swimmer and student of art at Syracuse University, in the late 1940s, before discovering dance. He studied at Juilliard, then joined the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1955, where he was a soloist for seven seasons. At the same time he started choreographing and founded his own troupe in 1954. He also danced and choreographed with George Balanchine's New York City Ballet in the 1960s.

After retiring as a performer in 1975, Taylor devoted himself fully to choreography. His two dance companies travel the globe performing his ever-burgeoning repertoire at theaters, college campuses and in rural communities.

Paul Taylor Dance Company's China debut was in 1996 and it returned for a four-week, six-city tour in 2001.

For its third tour, the company brings two programs. Program A tonight and on Sunday, includes Cloven Kingdom, Black Tuesday and Promethean Fire; Program B on Saturday is Byzantium, Company B and Esplanade.

The six works were created by Taylor from 1975 to 2002 and present the choreographer's cutting-edge approach to dance in different periods.

Paul Taylor Dance Company will perform at the Poly Theater.

(China Daily November 16, 2007)