José Limón legacy celebrated with festival

For more than 50 years, works by José Limón have been performed by companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, Paris Opera Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballet and many others. Now, approaching the Limón Dance Company’s 70th anniversary, the José Limón Dance Foundation will bring to New York professional companies and important schools from abroad and the U.S. for a grand celebration of the works of the legendary choreographer.

Set for October 13-25 at the Joyce Theater, the Limón International Dance Festival will feature the Bavarian State Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Germany’s Bayerisches Staatsballet, Venezuela’s Coreoarte, sjDANCEco from California and American Repertory Ballet from New Jersey.

School programs will include performances by The Juilliard School, the Canadian Children’s Dance Theater, The Hartt School in Connecticut, Taiwan’s National Institute of the Arts, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, North Carolina School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Texas, Mexico’s Sinaloa Dance School and University of Arizona.

Over the course of two weeks, festival attendees can enjoy Limón classics like Missa Brevis, The Moors Pavane, Mazurkas, Dialogues, Exiles, Dances for Isadora and Chaconne.

Founded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey, the Limón Dance Company has been at the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception and maintains it’s standing as one of the world’s greatest modern dance companies. The dances selected for the festival reflect a span of Limón’s creative output over the years, as well as the timelessness and humanity so cherished in his body of work.

For more information, head to www.limon.org.

Photo: The Limón Dance Company performing Missa Brevis. Photo courtesy of the José Limón Dance Foundation.