Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2017 | Paul Taylor Dance Company

Paul Taylor Dance Company returned to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2017 after many, many performances here since their Pillow debut in 1964. This year, four dancers from the company worked with me to make beautiful portraits. Cisco, Heather, Michael and Laura are all incredible movers and people. It was such a joy to work with them!

It was a special treat seeing Cisco — he is a longtime friend of my wife, Nel. They met during their time at Stephens College.

Heather, Michael, Cisco and Laura are some of the world’s strongest, most amazing dancers. I could tell they make pictures together often. They know how they look in front of the camera and they had amazing ideas. They knew how to work with me. They easily took my direction, and they quickly knew what was working well and how to improve on our ideas.

Making these Paul Taylor Dance photos was truly a collaborative process.

Cisco is leaving Paul Taylor Dance Company this summer after 10+ years with the company. It was bittersweet to photograph him with his fellow dancers.

Not only is he a stunning dancer, Cisco is a talented dance photographer in his own right. (You should follow his beautiful backstage images on Instagram.) His photos are an inside and intimate look into the company from his unique perspective. I really hope to see his “Behind the Scenes with Paul Taylor” sometime soon.