zoom_in Click to enlarge

Aureole (Paul Taylor)

▲ ▼

description Aureole (Paul Taylor) Overview

Paul Taylor's *Aureole* is a modern ballet notable for its stark exploration of grief and societal response. The choreography features a group of dancers reacting with escalating anxiety to a solemn military funeral procession within a limited stage area. This work examines the unsettling nature of public mourning and the isolating effect of shared trauma. It’s particularly relevant for audiences interested in contemporary dance, American ballet traditions, and works utilizing Handel's music.

help Aureole (Paul Taylor) FAQ

What music does Paul Taylor's Aureole use?

Aureole is set to music by George Frideric Handel. That Baroque score is part of why the 1962 work feels unusually airy and classical for a modern dance piece.

Why was Aureole a turning point for Paul Taylor?

Aureole helped move Taylor toward a more lyrical and accessible style after his earlier experimental work. Its success made it one of the Paul Taylor Dance Company's signature pieces.

Is Aureole a military funeral dance?

No. Aureole is generally known as a bright, buoyant modern dance rather than a grim funeral procession. If you are looking for Taylor's darker social or war-inflected works, pieces like Company B and Esplanade are different reference points.

Can ballet dancers perform Aureole?

Yes. Aureole is often discussed as a bridge between modern dance and ballet because it uses clear lines, lightness, and musical phrasing that ballet-trained dancers can understand. It still belongs to Paul Taylor's modern-dance repertory, not classical ballet.

swap_horiz

Looking for Aureole (Paul Taylor) alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward