December 9-16, 2004

artpicks

Taylor Made

Photo By: lois greenfield

dance

Since its 2002 debut, there's been speculation about Paul Taylor's Promethean Fire, a somber, enigmatic dance work performed to Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. To some, it's a response to the horrors of 9/11. The choreographer, however, refuses to confirm or deny this interpretation. That's been Taylor's m.o. all along—he prefers to let the work speak for itself. In any event, it's undeniably a powerful piece, featuring a sizable cast dressed in black and doing a dance of near-perpetual motion. "There's something about Promethean Fire that grabs you right away. It's riveting, dramatic, exciting and heroic," observes Randy Swartz, artistic director of Dance Celebration.

Equally energetic but much lighter in tone is "Klezmerbluegrass," a new work created to honor 350 years of Jewish life in America. An exuberant joyride, this one has dancers somersaulting and spinning while offering up creative interpretations of traditional dances such as the hora and Kazatzka.

Together, these two selections are a nice summary of Taylor's talents. As Swartz notes, "He runs the gamut from incredibly accessible, funny, poignant work to dark, horrific looks at the human psyche. He runs both ends of that polarization—but whatever he does, he holds your attention."

Paul Taylor Dance Company, Thu., Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., Fri. Dec. 10, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 11, 2 and 8 p.m., $32-$44, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900.

—Deni Kasrel