Limon Dance Company

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Limon Dance Company

The José Limón Dance Foundation exists to perpetuate the Limón legacy and its humanistic approach to movement.
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Hailed as one of the world’s greatest dance companies, the Limón Dance Company has been at the vanguard of American Modern dance since its inception in 1946. The Company is the living legacy of dance theater developed by José Limón and his mentors, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, whose innovative works revolutionized the American dance. After Limón’s death in 1972 the Company pioneered the id

ea that it was possible to survive the death of its founder, setting an example for the entire dance field. Now in its 67th year, the Company is renowned for its technical mastery and dramatic expression, and demonstrates both the timelessness of José Limón’s works and the humanistic vision that guides the repertory choices. Founded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey, the Company was led until 2016 by Carla Maxwell, who worked closely with Limón before becoming Artistic Director in 1978. Dante Puleio, former company member, an esteemed educator and choreographer, currently serves as Artistic Director. The Company has been committed to producing and presenting programs that balance classic works of American modern dance with commissions and acquisitions from contemporary choreographers, resulting in a repertory of unparalleled breadth. In its first half-century, the Company achieved many important milestones: it was the first group to tour under the auspices of the American Cultural Exchange Program (1954), the first dance troupe to perform at Lincoln Center (1963), and has had the honor of appearing twice at The White House (1967 and 1995). More recently the José Limón Dance Foundation was awarded a 2008 National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence.

06/03/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES 📷 // José Limón in a lost work titled ‘Sonata No. IV’, photographed by Evelia Kochen, circa 1940s

06/02/2026

‘The Moor’s Pavane’ at the Royal Opera House this Summer // The Birmingham Royal Ballet has licensed this Limón masterwork for a run of mainstage performances AUGUST 5-9. Featuring former Royal Ballet principal Carlos Acosta returning to The Royal Opera House in a mixed bill called Myths and Modern Masters, which sees him dancing Othello for the first time in José Limón’s The Moor’s Pavane.

“This opportunity is special for me because I’m going to be performing in José Limón’s The Moor’s Pavane. This was a favourite work of Rudolf Nureyev and one that he incorporated in his tours around the world very frequently, but I never had the chance to perform in it.”

Acosta will be joined by Birmingham Royal Ballet principals, Beatrice Parma as Desdemona, Miki Mizutani as Emilia, and Max Maslen as Iago.

Read FULL ARTICLE HERE https://www.gramilano.com/2026/05/interview-carlos-acosta/

05/27/2026

TRAIN WITH LIMON – SUMMER 2026! Come further your artistry through an intensive and in depth exploration of risk, breath, momentum, form, and intention. World renowned faculty. In-person. NYC.

Intermediate & Advanced dancers, aged 15+
June 22 - 26 & June 29 -July 2, 2026

Registration deadline is JUNE 19 ⬇️
https://pci.jotform.com/form/252804299988174

Photo by Kelly Puleio.

05/22/2026

Three extraordinary works. Eight decades of American modern dance. One unforgettable evening.Experience excerpts of Two Ecstatic Themes, The Moor’s Pavane, and The Quake That Held Them All - works that span generations and define a genre - performed by the celebrated Limón Dance Company, founded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey. This evening of performance and conversation brings together Artistic Director Dante Puleio, former Limón soloist Daniel Fetecua, Jacob’s Pillow Archivist Norton Owen, and Limón principals Joey Columbus and Mariah Gravelin to illuminate the past, present, and future of a living legacy. It will be a rare window into an art form that continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

June 4, 2026 at 6:30pm

All programs are open to the public and free with registration.
Register at nacnyc.org to RSVP and learn more about monthly events and how to support NAC and the Limón Dance Company!

05/20/2026

FROM THE ARCHIVES // José Limón in “Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias,” photographed by John Lindquist, 1946 at Jacob’s Pillow, circa 1930s 💙

05/15/2026

First West Harlem Pier Park Outdoors class TODAY! ☀️☀️☀️

Join us at West Harlem Piers Park every third Friday of the month this summer from 6pm-7pm for an evening of free Limón class enjoyed by a waterfront sunset!

Kick off your summer weekends with the joy of dance!

05/14/2026

JOSÉ LIMÓN: NYPL Dance Research Fellowship — DEADLINE TO APPLY IS TOMORROW, MAY 15!

Mexican-American dance artist José Limón was one of the defining figures in modern dance in the 20th century. Known for a rich and complex repertory that explored issues of immigration, race and gender, Limón leveraged dance to unify communities through shared human experience. His pacifist and anti-war masterwork Missa Brevis stands as a testament to the power of dance to heal. In his long career he performed as a star dancer for Doris Humphrey, developed an eponymous dance technique that is still taught today, served in the army during World War II, helped to develop modern dance in Mexico, headed the short-lived American Dance Theatre with Donald McKayle and Anna Sokolow in 1964 and 1965, and was a cultural ambassador for the U.S. via the State Department’s program in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time of his death in 1972 he had choreographed over 74 works including _The Moor’s Pavane, Psalm, Danzas Mexicanas, Tonantzintl_an and The Traitor.

American modern dance artists were among the first to entrust their collections to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division and Limón’s relationship with the Library dates back to the 1940s. As the Limón Dance Company celebrates its 80th year, we now invite applications for the Dance Research Fellowship from dance scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the rich legacy of José Limón.

We welcome both written and performative responses to research. Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend, dedicated support from a dance librarian as they work in the archive, and an opportunity to present their projects at our annual Dance Symposium in January 2027. The research period is July 1–December 31, 2026.

TO LEARN HOW TO APPLY, visit https://www.nypl.org/about/fellowships-institutes/lpa-dance-research-fellowship

Photo: José Limón in Hymn, 1934. Photo credit, Thomas Bouchard © Houghton Library, Harvard University.

05/13/2026

LIMÓN SUMMER INTENSIVE 2026 — June 22-July 2 — NYC
Registration deadline is June 19th!

Come train with our world renowned faculty this Summer!

More information at limon.nyc/summer-intensives

📸 Photo by: Richard Mitchell

05/11/2026

LIMÓN OUTDOORS SUMMER 2026 DATES ANNOUNCED!

Bryant Park
Saturdays 10am - 11am
July 11 - September 19, 2026

&

West Harlem Piers Park
Monthly on Fridays | 6 - 7pm
May 15, Jun 19, Jul 17, Aug 21

Free of cost, always. Live music, always. Community and fun, nonnegotiable 😉

REGISTER VIA LINK IN BIO or at LIMON.NYC

“I started doing this last year, it is something I have looked forward to all year long. There is nothing like being outside dancing in the sun, with a whole group of people, all different ages and shapes and sizes and every different thing that New York holds. I highly recommend it!” — Participant

“Such a fun experience to move in nature on a beautiful morning with a wide community of people. It was so easy to forget that I was in the middle of a bustling city!” — Participant

Address

466 W 152nd St, Fl 2
New York, NY
10031

Telephone

(212) 777-3353

Website

http://www.limon.nyc/, https://linktr.ee/LimonDance, http://www.limon.nyc/give

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