The Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company is on campus through Friday, Sept. 30, for the company’s first-ever “reconstruction residency” in the Department of Dance. Capping an 18-month research project led by Associate Professor of Dance Kim Jones, the residency brings the Taylor 2 dancers from New York City to Charlotte to teach students in master classes and to bring back to life a work not seen in more than 50 years. That dance, “Tracer,” will be performed in a concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Sept. 30, in the Anne Belk Theater of the Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts.
Paul Taylor choreographed “Tracer,” his 29th work, in 1962, directly before “Aureole,” which launched his career as one of the seminal figures in modern dance. It is one of 13 dances that Taylor created with American artist Robert Rauschenberg (who designed the set and costumes) in an artistic partnership that began in the 1950s. “Tracer” premiered in Paris in April 1962 and was last performed in 1964.
“Tracer” is one of seven works by Taylor for which no complete record of the choreography exists; it was never captured on film. The collaborative research process to reconstruct the work was recently covered by the New York Times. A panel discussion being held at 6:30 p.m., Sept. 30, in Robinson Hall will elaborate on the project.
During the residency, the Taylor 2 dancers and rehearsal director Ruth Andrien, a former Paul Taylor Dance Company member, will give master classes for students at UNC Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Davidson College, Northwest School of the Arts and Charlotte Ballet. UNC Charlotte dance students also will learn “Tracer,” and they will perform the reconstructed work at UNC Charlotte and in high schools throughout the community during the coming year.
In addition to the “re-premiere” of “Tracer,” the Taylor 2 Dance Company concert on Sept. 30 features the company in two additional works by Taylor, “Junction” and “Company B,” as well as an ensemble of UNC Charlotte students in a section of Taylor’s “Esplanade.”
Tickets are $18 for general audience members, $12 for faculty and staff, $10 for seniors and $8 for students.
The Taylor 2 Dance Company residency and public performance are possible with funding from the UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture, Department of Dance and Office of Academic Affairs and grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.