Paul Taylor's Dances in Ballet Companies!

It's hardly a secret that I am amongst a privileged few "former" dancers who stage (teach) Paul Taylor's works for companies, dance conservatories, and schools around the USA and the world. My professional dance career started outside of the USA through my ballet training and in dance companies or projects in Europe and the West Indies. Since retiring from performing, I have enjoyed working internationally to bring Taylor's dances to life for dancers who may never have encountered his work before.

Most often, Paul Taylor's dances are licensed to be performed by major ballet companies like American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet. One of the most celebrated German ballet companies in recent decades is Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany, and I had the fortune to set two of Taylor's works on some very special dancers! More than being beautifully trained athletes, they are committed artists curious about transcending technique into creating living "accessible" art. Taylor's dances are built to feature each dancer's individuality as they fit into a larger community, marked by the aesthetic approach and physical language of his choreography.

With company premiere cast of "Offenbach Overtures" by
Ballett am Rhein in 2019

I thought it might help New York dancers get a chance to know more about me, by readinng or hearing from dancers with whom I have worked in the past. So in my previous post, I shared a couple of videos from dancers I met in India. Below is a short quote from Doris Becker whom I first met in 2016. She is still dancing with Ballett am Rhein, and I am so proud for all of her accomplishments and continued success on the stage and in life. Thank you for the kind words, Doris! 

Photo: Gert Weigert

“Working with Richard on two very significant Taylor works ("Esplanade“ and “Offenbach Overtures“) was a very special experience for me because I haven’t got in touch with any of his works before at that point of my career.

 

Richard‘s incredible knowledge about the pieces including the explanation of Taylor's vision, the choreography, the music score and the style of the movements and how he taught us to use it allowed me to really enjoy the process and to get this very unique experience of feeling so "free“ and "alive“ on stage even though you’re dancing your heart out. 

 

Looking back on my 20 years of being a professional dancer now it was one of my most favorite working processes because getting coached by such an honest, warm hearted and empathic person as Richard is not very common in the ballet world!” 

Doris Becker (dancer Ballett am Rhein), 2025.

Alexandra Liashenko & Doris Becker in Paul Taylor's "Offenbach Overtures"

Ballett am Rhein. Photo: Gert Weigert

If you are curious about learning ballet or modern with me, I teach regular weekly "open" classes at the Taylor School in NYC. Brand new studios are located very near to Times Square, and our full roster of teachers bring a wealth of dance to life daily.

paultaylordance.org/school/open-level/