60
YEARS A LIFE IN DANCE
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2027
YEARS ONE VISION
A CAREER RETROSPECTIVE CURATED BY
MICHAEL UTHOFF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
60 JOIN DANCE ST. LOUIS
FOR A LIFE JOURNEY CELEBRATING MICHAEL UTHOFF’S EXTRAORDINARY CAREER IN DANCE — SPANNING SIXTY YEARS.
A LEGACY BORN AT JUILLIARD Michael Uthoff’s story begins at Juilliard, where technique met purpose and a lifelong devotion to dance took root. From those early years of training emerged the discipline and artistry that would define six decades of work. Top: Michael Uthoff at Juilliard
WHERE IT CONTINUED From Juilliard, Uthoff’s career unfolded across the dance world — as a performer, choreographer, and artistic director shaping companies and generations of dancers. His vision extended beyond the stage, influencing how dance was taught, led, and imagined at every company he touched.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY Today, Uthoff’s legacy lives on in the dancers he trained, the companies he built, and the artistry he continues to inspire. Sixty years later, his influence remains woven into the fabric of American dance.
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2027 EVERY CHAPTER OF THIS JOURNEY — the discipline first found at Juilliard, the decades of vision spent shaping companies and dancers, and the legacy that continues to move through American dance today — converges on a single stage at the 2027 SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL. It is here that sixty years of Michael Uthoff’s artistry are honored not as a look back, but as a living continuation: his training, his choreography, and his influence embodied once more by the dancers carrying his legacy forward.
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IT ALL COMES TOGETHER AT
JOIN US AS DANCE ST. LOUIS BRINGS THIS REMARKABLE JOURNEY FULL CIRCLE — A CELEBRATION OF WHERE IT BEGAN, EVERYWHERE IT HAS TRAVELED, AND WHERE IT LIVES ON.
1960
ARRIVING IN NEW YORK
Photos from Julliard Archives
JUILLIARD SCHOOL OF MUSIC REFLECTIONS ON THE WATER CHOREOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL UTHOFF
When Uthoff first arrived in New York City, he discovered the dance department at the Juilliard School of Music, led by the pioneering Martha Hill. In those studios he was touched by some of the great figures of American dance — Antony Tudor, José Limón, and many artists from the Martha Graham company — and it was through their mentorship that he came to understand what it truly meant to be part of a dance company. That guidance shaped the course of his career.
Top: Michael in rehearsal, Juilliard 1964
When Uthoff later turned to choreography, he was asked to create “Reflections on the Water.” Bringing the work back to life now feels like a perfect circle — a quiet, beautiful piece that carries the flow he learned from José Limón alongside the subtle classical ballet technique instilled in him by Antony Tudor.
Bottom: Reflections on the Water, choreographed by Michael Uthoff performed by Juilliard Dance Ensemble, 1986
A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
1962
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
Archive photo: Martha Graham
FOUR SOLOS FROM THE REPERTORY
Michael peforming with Josè Limón
That same year, Uthoff enrolled at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. He knew of Graham’s reputation but had never seen her work performed and found himself fascinated by her technique — demanding as it was on the body, particularly her signature floor work. About seven months into his studies, Graham invited him to join her company for an upcoming season. After wrestling with the physical toll of her technique, Uthoff realized he could not commit himself fully to her vision. Soon after, José Limón — his teacher at Juilliard — asked him to join the his company instead, and Uthoff knew he had found his path. This program brings four solos from the Graham repertory back into the story, honoring the road not taken that helped define the one he did.
Archive photo: José Limón
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
1965
THE TURNING POINT
JOFFREY BALLET ROUND OF ANGELS CHOREOGRAPHY BY GERALD ARPINO
Michael dancing with Joffrey Ballet
As a young dancer struggling with the financial realities of life in a modern dance company, Uthoff caught the attention of Robert Joffrey, who had seen him dance at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center as part of the José Limón Dance Company. Joffrey asked whether Uthoff would join his company. The offer was modest, but it was still more than Limón’s company could provide. After asking Joffrey about his goals and vision for the company, Uthoff came to believe he was about to join an organization that would shape his artistic outlook forever — and he was right. With Gerald Arpino at the choreographic helm, the Joffrey Ballet produced a stream of works that left audiences clamoring for more, and Uthoff was fortunate to dance in many of them. “Round of Angels” itself was created years after Uthoff had left the company, but it stands as a fitting representation of everything the Joffrey Ballet stood for during his time there.
A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
1966 ONE REGRET
BALANCHINE’S TARANTELLA Archive photo: George Balanchine
Uthoff began his New York training at the School of American Ballet at 18 years old, with little formal ballet training behind him. Balancing those studies with the teachings of the great Antony Tudor was a significant challenge, but it was there that he came to understand and appreciate what classical ballet training meant to the education of a dancer. He knew early on that he was not New York City Ballet material. To his great surprise, after leaving the Joffrey Ballet and before committing to build the Hartford Ballet, George Balanchine — for whom Uthoff had danced three ballets during his time at the Joffrey — invited him to join New York City Ballet. Uthoff turned down the offer. If he has one regret in his career, it is not having allowed himself the chance to work under Balanchine’s guidance for a few years.
TARANTELLA
Archive photo: Michael dancing with Lisa Bradley
WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE 2027 SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL BY MIAMI CITY BALLET
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
1973
HONORING A MENTOR
ODE TO JOSÉ CHOREOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL UTHOFF MUSIC BY JOHANN PACHELBEL PERFORMED BY STUDENTS OF CENTRAL VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL, A DANCE ST. LOUIS RESIDENCY SCHOOL.
Archive photo: Michael Uthoff
Created in memory of Uthoff’s mentor José Limón, “Ode to José” draws on Limón’s movement language and choreographic ideas while extending them toward a broader sense of humanity. The work went on to enjoy wide success, touring extensively across China, the United States, and Latin America.
A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
1975 A SHARED VOICE
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY ESPLANADE CHOREOGRAPHY BY PAUL TAYLOR
As Uthoff matured as an artist in New York City through the 1960s, a new voice was speaking louder and louder — Paul Taylor. His work resonated deeply with Uthoff, who followed his creations year after year. In 1975, “Esplanade” was born, and Uthoff was stunned; he had never seen such a magnificent work built on such a simple, beautiful point of view.
Esplanade, performed by Paul Taylor Dance Company Michael Uthoff in the studio at Hartford Ballet
By then Uthoff was developing the Hartford Ballet, and he began preparing his dancers in the hope that they might one day perform the piece. Over time, Taylor and Uthoff became friendly acquaintances, and when Uthoff felt his company was ready, he asked whether the Hartford Ballet might be allowed to perform “Esplanade.” At the time, Uthoff was not aware of any other company that had been granted the rights to perform it. To his amazement, Taylor agreed, and in 1984 the Hartford Ballet danced “Esplanade” — a dream fulfilled. Now, more than four decades later, that dream comes to St. Louis as part of the SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL’s 20th Anniversary season.
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
Three Epitaphs
1975
THE OTHER SIDE OF TAYLOR
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY THREE EPITAPHS CHOREOGRAPHY BY PAUL TAYLOR
Three Epitaphs, performed by Paul Taylor Dance Company
Archive photos: Paul Taylor
A second work by Paul Taylor rounds out the lineup, this time showcasing the humor at the heart of his artistry. It was this very playfulness and range in Taylor’s work that inspired Uthoff to pursue a career that would allow him to dwell in many genres rather than one. Presenting both sides of Taylor’s voice — the quiet grandeur of “Esplanade” and the wit of “Three Epitaphs” — is a gift to St. Louis audiences, offering the full scope of dance through the lens of a single creator.
Archive photo: Paul Taylor A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
1984 FULL CIRCLE
PILOBOLUS A company that needs no introduction, Pilobolus rose to prominence around the same time Uthoff founded the Hartford Ballet. Chance settled them both in Connecticut, and the two artistic visions grew into a close friendship and a deep mutual admiration for one another’s work. That friendship led to the Hartford Ballet’s 1984 commission of a new Pilobolus work, “Land’s Edge,” which became a signature piece for the company — audiences rose to their feet after every performance. The relationship first cultivated in Hartford has continued in St. Louis, where Pilobolus has remained a valued partner in Dance St. Louis’s presenting seasons, the festival and educational outreach programming.
Archive photo: Michael Uthoff at Hartford Ballet MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
Pas de Duke was originally created in 1976 for Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov
1960s
A PATH CROSSED OFTEN
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER PAS DE DUKE
Archive photo: Alvin Ailey
Uthoff first met Alvin Ailey in the early 1960s, running to the Delacorte Theater to see his creations and marveling at “Revelations.” Seeing that Ailey’s company was integrated, and with a friend already dancing in its ranks, Uthoff wondered whether joining might be a possibility for him. Just as that possibility might have taken shape, however, Uthoff signed instead with another small company. In the years that followed, Uthoff’s and Ailey’s paths crossed many times as members of the same dance family. Like most who have come into contact with the power of Ailey’s work, Uthoff has never stopped admiring the way his legacy has endured. Ailey has also been an important part of Dance St. Louis’s own growth and history, and this program would be remiss not to showcase the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as a company that has meant so much to Uthoff’s life.
Archive photo: Delacorte Theater in Central Park
A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
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A REGIONAL TREASURE
St. Louis is defined, in part, by the institutions that draw people here and help give the region its identity: the Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra among them. For the dance world, the SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL has created a place for St. Louis in that cultural landscape. For more than six decades, Dance St. Louis has brought extraordinary dance from across the country and around the world to St. Louis. Through its presenting seasons and SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL—conceived by Michael Uthoff—the organization has helped establish the region as a place where audiences and artists come together to experience dance at an exceptional level. Today, Dance St. Louis is known as the region’s GATEWAY TO WORLD DANCE®, and the SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL has become one of its signature achievements, earning a reputation as one of the dance world’s gems.
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
ONE LEGACY. 60 YEARS. CULMINATING ON A SINGLE STAGE.
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2027
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027 TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER JOFFREY BALLET JUILLIARD SCHOOL OF MUSIC MARIA MAJORS MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY MIAMI CITY BALLET PALOMA GOMEZ PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY PILOBOLUS RAGAMALA DANCE COMPANY VISCERAL DANCE CHICAGO
60 MICHAEL UTHOFF
A LIFE IN DANCE
Michael Uthoff was born into dance — the son of Ernst Uthoff and Lola Botka, founding members of the Chilean National Ballet. He trained at Juilliard, the School of American Ballet, and the Martha Graham School before dancing with the José Limón Dance Company, the Joffrey Ballet, and the New York City Opera. He went on to found the Hartford Ballet, serving as its artistic director for two decades, before leading Ballet Arizona and later the Ballet Estable of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. In 2006, he brought that experience home to Dance St. Louis, where — across two tenures as artistic director — he created the SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL and the New Dance Horizons commissioning program, and built the organization’s Dance Education Residency to bring dance to underserved youth across the region. Inspired by New Dance Horizons, he serves as the artistic director of New Dance Partners in Kansas. The 2027 festival marks the first time the SPRING TO DANCE will be shaped explicitly as a tribute to the man who built it — a curated lineup reflecting the companies, choreographers and traditions that have defined his career, presented for the St. Louis audiences who have supported his vision for two decades.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THE MICHAEL UTHOFF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ®
We offer a range of festival sponsorship levels within the Michael Uthoff Artistic Director’s Circle, each an opportunity to honor sixty years of artistry while directly supporting the works and dancers that carry it forward.
SPONSORS ARE INVITED TO MAKE THEIR SUPPORT PERSONAL — DEDICATING A SPONSORSHIP AS A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL UTHOFF’S LEGACY OR SOMEONE MEANINGFUL TO THEM WHILE ALSO CHOOSING A SPECIFIC DANCE COMPANY WITHIN THE CURATED FESTIVAL LINEUP TO SUPPORT DIRECTLY.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
LEGACY SPONSOR
PRESENTING SPONSOR
$25,000
$10,000
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
FULL-CIRCLE SPONSOR
ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR
$5,000
$2,000
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR
ENCORE SPONSOR
$1,000
ANY LEVEL OF SUPPORT
A R E MA R KA B LE JO URNEY CO MES FULL CI RCLE
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
2027
Richard M. Dee
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DANCE ST. LOUIS
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
314.588.7707 mobile rdee@dancestlouis.org
JOIN US
dancestlouis.org
The 2027 SPRING TO DANCE® FESTIVAL is more than an anniversary — it is a tribute to a career that has shaped professional dance in St. Louis and beyond. We invite you to be part of this milestone celebration and to help ensure that Michael Uthoff’s legacy, and the festival he built, continue to thrive for the next twenty years.
MAY 28 AND 29, 2027
TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2027
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3310 SAMUEL SHEPARD DRIVE ST. LOUIS, MO 63103