Taylor troupe presents three works new to D.C.

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By Jean Battey Lewis

The Paul Taylor Dance Company, here tonight and tomorrow, is bringing three new works to Washington. Two pieces, "De Suenos" and "De Suenos que se Repiten," are dreamlike evocations of Mexico. Both — asked forare commissioned by the Kennedy Center, perhaps mindful of its role as an international cultural center.

"It's a jumble," Mr. Taylor says happily. "There's Aztec ritual and Christian implications, a girl who sells flowers and a little Mexican folk dance."

The reason there are two dances on similar themes, according to Mr. Taylor (who shies away from sounding arty or highfalutin) is because "there was more music on the Kronos Quartet disc, so I made another one."

That's a typical Taylor ploy — a sort of "Aw shucks, I don't know where it comes from." But in truth, although he works fiercely and fast, one gets the feeling he's sometimes puzzled by his own artistic process.

The program's third work, Mr. Taylor's choice, is "Beloved Renegade," about one of his heroes, the poet Walt Whitman.

"I admire Whitman, I've read and re-read his writing and read writings about him. I tried to get a little of that in the dance."

Mr. Taylor has been described as the world's greatest living choreographer. Yet that seems inadequate when describing his stunningly wide-ranging talents. Dance. Art. Writing: Paul Taylor has left his indelible mark on them all. And he started early.

Born in Wilkinsburg, Pa., near Pittsburgh, he grew up in the Washington area and went to school here in the District.

"The James S. Oyster Elementary School," Mr. Taylor recalls. "I liked it. The teachers were very nice to me. They had me keep drawing things that we could put up for decorations. In fact," he adds with a laugh, "I got through my whole education just drawing."

Although no one in his family was artistic, he casually drops one clue to his early involvement in the arts when speaking of a childhood full of constant moves and new situations. "Like a dance, they showed me another world," he says.