Dayton Contemporary Dance Company & Paul Taylor Dance Company

Friday, July 25 at 7:30 pm *Post-Performance Discussion

Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 pm *Children’s Matinee

Saturday, July 26 at 5:00 pm

ADF Commissioned World Premiere

Program: New Work by Amy Hall Garner, Vespers by Ulysses Dove, Esplanade by Paul Taylor

Running time: 83 minutes, includes one intermission

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) and Paul Taylor Dance Company will (PTDC) close out the ADF season with a shared program that marks a significant milestone, as both companies are stepping outside of their traditional repertory. DCDC will perform Paul Taylor’s 1975 masterpiece Esplanade, a vibrant exploration of human movement, takes pedestrian actions—walking, running, falling—and elevates them to virtuosic heights. Set to the soaring music of Bach’s violin concertos, Esplanade unfolds in five distinct sections, each a testament to Taylor’s choreographic genius. From its deceptively simple beginnings to its breathtaking finale of dancers fearlessly careening across the stage, the work captures the essence of human experience with raw athleticism and emotional depth. PTDC will perform Ulysses Dove’s Vespers, a mesmerizing piece originally crafted for DCDC in 1986. Vespers celebrates sisterhood through the athleticism and grace of six female dancers, driven by Mikel Rouse’s electronic score. Combining faith and abstract movement, the piece captivates with its precise, repetitive choreography and emotional intensity. The work has traditionally been performed by African American repertory companies. This cross-exchange highlights the companies’ commitment to innovation and cultural exchange, making it a truly momentous performance. To conclude the evening, the festival has commissioned internationally acclaimed choreographer and ADF alum Amy Hall Garner to create a groundbreaking new work for both DCDC and PTDC—an unprecedented collaboration. Garner is known for creating innovative works across ballet, modern, and theatrical genres. She will develop the piece during residencies in Dayton and New York City, with a final creative week at ADF before its world premiere on their shared program. The work will then be featured and toured in both companies’ repertories.

Photo Credit: Whitney Browne & Scott Robbins