Trailer for the documentary Paul Taylor Creative Domain.
Paul Taylor is one of the dance world’s most elusive and respected choreographers. For 60 years he has given only glimpses into his creative process, but for his 133rd dance, ‘Three Dubious Memories,’ the door swings open. The documentary is an in-depth exploration of how Mr. Taylor creates a single work.
We begin with Paul dancing in his youth, describing the nature of dance, ‘you learn to live day to day, hour to hour.’ We leap to Paul present day, now in his 80’s, still living his life in the moment, with his mind intently focused on his next dance. His new work is a Rashomon-inspired exploration of memory, three characters entangled in a relationship, and each believing only in their own dark memory of it.
Through the lens of award-winning cinematographer Tom Hurwitz, we see Paul’s non-verbal communication with his dancers. Below the surface of this dance and the many works that came before, is Paul’s power of acute observation, revealing a side to his choreography that is strangely prophetic. The dominant voice is Paul’s, between the guarded and unguarded moments we see him with new eyes and new understanding.