MTI Concert Dance, a division of Music Theatre International, announced that the company has entered an agreement to exclusively license a series of works created by renowned choreographer José Limón to professional companies, the second choreographer’s works to be included in the MTI catalogue. More than 60 ballets and theatre dance works by Jerome Robbins were the first choreographic works to be licensed by MTI Concert Dance in September, 2024.
Launched in March 2024, MTI Concert Dance helps sustain and grow the legacy of choreographers, their works, and the transcendent power of dance for future generations of dance artists and audiences. Led by dancer, choreographer, and educator Elizabeth Parkinson, MTI Concert Dance is the first organization of its kind to work directly with choreographers and dance companies to license copyrighted works to organizations around the world. As a result, the choreographer’s legacy and brand are completely supported, developed, and protected. MTI Concert Dance aspires to license choreographed works from well-known creators across many genres of dance.
José Limón (1908–1972) was one of the most prominent American choreographers in modern dance, renowned for his powerful works exploring human drama, literature, history, and religion. He elevated the image of the male dancer and created enduring masterpieces such as The Moor’s Pavane (based on Shakespeare’s Othello), along with over 70 others including The Traitor, The Exiles, There is a Time, Chaconne, and The Unsung. Born in Culiacán, Mexico, in 1908, Limón immigrated to the U.S. as a child, discovered dance in his 20s after studying painting in New York, trained with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, and founded his own company in 1946. The Limón Dance Company, established with Humphrey, remains a leading force in modern dance, with the José Limón Dance Foundation continuing his legacy through performance and education.
Limón works licensed by MTI include: Chaconne; A Choreographic Offering; Concerto Grosso; Dances for Isadora; Danzas Mexicanas; The Emperor Jones; The Exiles; La Malinche; Mazurkas; Missa Brevis; The Moor’s Pavane; Orfeo; Psalm; Scherzo; There is a Time; The Traitor; The Unsung; The Waldstein Sonata; and The Winged. The José Limón Dance Foundation will continue managing educational and non-professional licenses directly.
“I first encountered the works of José Limón as a young dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. Robert Joffrey aspired to present historically important works in every season, and The Moor’s Pavane was a highly anticipated staple in our repertory,” said Elizabeth Parkinson. “I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to observe these passionate performances from the wings of New York City Center, and am honored to now represent and advocate for the works of José Limón.”
“I was once backstage warming up when Sylvie Guillem – who was sharing the bill with the Limón Company – came up to me and told me about one of her earliest dance memories. She described standing outside the studio, watching Rudolf Nureyev learn the role of the Moor in Limón’s The Moor’s Pavane. She said she had never been so deeply moved by a work, and that Limón’s choreography is among the most important of the 20th century – work that must never stop being performed. As you can imagine, that has stayed with me since and now this historic partnership brings together the 70-year legacy and global reach of MTI with the 80-year legacy and global reach of José Limón, ensuring that the work of both organizations continues to inspire and connect the greatest dancers and companies, generation after generation,” said Dante Puleio, artistic director, Limón Dance Company.
Additional information about MTI Concert Dance can be found here.
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