The Limón Dance Company (LDC) continues its celebration of the company’s 80-year history with a captivating program that honors eight decades of revolutionary modern dance by its founder, José Limón, and amplifies the voices of today. The program runs at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, NYC, from October 6-11, 2026 and features a Curtain Chat on October 7. Tickets start at $17, including fees, and are available here.
The Limón Dance Company’s 80th anniversary celebration bridges legacy and innovation through landmark new work commissions and powerful cultural partnerships over 18 months, solidifying the Company as one of the most vital voices within the landscape of American and global dance.
The company also honors six years of leadership from Artistic Director Dante Puleio, who took the helm of Limón Dance Company in 2020 just as the dance world went into lockdown. Puleio’s artistic vision pairs new commissions by brilliant contemporary choreographers with radical revivals of legacy works by José Limón and his mentor Doris Humphrey.
Six years later, Limón has celebrated 6 world premieres, 10 acclaimed reconstructions of iconic dances, 2 historic museum installations celebrating Limón’s contemporary impact, and their first Bessie Award in twenty years. The success of his approach has emphasized Limón’s importance in today’s world, showcasing how legacy work can speak across generations when it is contextualized for today’s audiences.
The program will include both José Limón’s 1958 work Mazurkas and LDC’s 2025 commission, Aszure Barton’s Join.
Mazurkas, born from Limón’s journey to Poland following World War II, was inspired by the resilience and vitality of the Polish people. Created as a tribute to his dancers and the spirit he witnessed abroad, the work emerged from the same grueling yet euphoric 1957 European tour that inspired both Missa Brevis and Mazurkas. What sets Mazurkas apart is Limón’s deeply personal approach: each dancer was honored with a solo or duet tailored to their individual qualities. Even today, sections of the work are still referred to by the names of the original cast members, preserving a direct connection to the artists who inspired them. Set to ten mazurkas by Frédéric Chopin, this historical reconstruction features live piano accompaniment and will be performed in its entirety for the first time since 1964.
The program will close with the 2025 commission of Aszure Barton’s Join, created in collaboration with Grammy-nominated composer Ambrose Akinmusire. Together they have taken José Limón’s vivid, poetic description of a lost Doris Humphrey work and created a new world of spellbinding movement and transcendent storytelling. In Limón’s An Unfinished Memoir, he recalls his mentor’s process and staging of Orestes with adoration and respect, claiming it “as one of her greatest works”. Unfortunately, the work’s magnitude, with an orchestral score by Darius Milhaud, made it impossible to produce, so it never premiered.
Barton was so moved by Limón’s writing, she took his words as inspiration for a new piece rather than attempting to recreate a lost Humphrey work. This springboard of inspiration connects the performing artists steeped in the Humphrey/Limón tradition to the forefront of contemporary dance making; bridging generations of artists who make up a tapestry of artistic exploration built over a century. Aptly titled Join, Barton’s work centers on relationships in a group dynamic and the complex interconnectivity that joins them.
Since its founding in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey, Limón Dance Company has been at the frontline of American Modern dance and is considered one of the world’s greatest dance companies. Acclaimed for its dramatic expression, technical mastery, and expansive, yet nuanced movement, the Limón Dance Company illustrates the timelessness of José Limón’s work and vision. The Company’s repertory, which includes classic works in addition to new commissions from contemporary choreographers, possesses an unparalleled breadth and creates unique experiences for audiences around the world.
Visit www.limon.nyc to learn more.
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