Paul Taylor’s Company B

Posted on by Machaela Erdeljac

PBT Brings the Excitement and Trepidation of the 1940s to the Benedum in Company B

Company B, a nostalgic and poignant tribute to the World War II era choreographed by the renowned Paul Taylor, will be performed by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as part of America 250 with the PBT Orchestra. This production will take place at the Benedum Center from February 20 through 22, 2026.

A few weeks ago, PBT was joined by Paul Taylor Company repetiteur, Patrick Corbin, who staged the dance with PBT artists. Corbin was a dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company beginning in 1989. Company B, one of Paul Taylor’s seminal works, was the first production in which he danced with them. He performed the solo role of Johnny in “Oh Johnny, Oh, Johnny, Oh!” Corbin sat down with us to discuss the ballet, its background and the meanings and inspirations behind it.

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The original production of Company B, which premiered on June 21, 1991, was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Houston Ballet. The ballet skillfully conveys not only the exuberance of the 1940s but also weaves the dances with images of soldiers leaving for World War II, many of whom would never return. Taylor seamlessly blends popular 1940s social dances—including the jitterbug, lindy and polka—with his signature modern dance style to create this emotional ballet.

According to Corbin, Paul Taylor typically created one “light” dance and one “dark” dance each year. This was the first work in which he combined light and dark elements. The ballet builds with a dynamic of rising action, peak and falling action, bookended by the same song, creating different emotions. Initially, Taylor wanted the choreography to be solely his trademark modern style, but as the piece developed, swing and jazz elements were naturally incorporated to fit the music. The overall work incorporates a variety of dances, including ensemble pieces featuring the entire cast, solos, pas de deux and smaller groups. The work consists of 10 sections, each set to a different Andrews Sisters song:

  • Bei Mir Bist du Schön (opening)
    • Taylor uses this ensemble dance as both the opening and closing numbers of Company B. They are both ensemble sections. The opening part builds slowly, introducing dancers in silhouette as memories from the mist come to life.
  • Pennsylvania Polka
    • This enthusiastic duet examines American exceptionalism and excitement at home during the 1940s, set against a backdrop of war and soldiers dying.
  • Tico-Tico
    • This is a fast-paced, high-energy solo that appears lighthearted, but has darker undertones about a soldier with PTSD and wartime stress trying to keep it together.
  • Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!
    • This upbeat number features a male lead, Johnny, surrounded by adoring women. Johnny is a man who has avoided going to war (possibly by faking an injury, according to Corbin). He is sexy and fun and the women love him. He is also a bit of a womanizer and an overall not-so-great guy.
  • I Can Dream, Can’t I?
    • This is a solo about a woman longing for a soldier stationed overseas, while he finds comfort in the arms of another soldier. This look at intimacy during wartime pushed the limits of gay roles when Taylor created it more than 35 years ago. Taylor was inspired by a photo of Judy Garland looking lovingly at Clark Gable.
  • Joseph! Joseph!
    • This is a playful song with women chasing after men that ends more somberly with a woman grieving over a man’s body. Taylor’s formal choreographic prowess is especially evident in this piece. Corbin considers this the choreographic heart of Company B.
  • Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Company B)
    • This carefree solo features an all-American poster boy soldier who dances happily until he is suddenly and violently shot and killed at the end of the dance. It highlights the dangers and vulnerabilities soldiers face in wartime.
  • Rum and Coca-Cola
    • Inspired by the musical South Pacific, this dance features a sassy young Caribbean prostitute and a group of soldiers drawn to her.
  • There Will Never Be Another You
    • Taylor romanticizes loss in this haunting duet, featuring a woman dancing with the ghost of her partner, who died in the war. She dances with memories of what her life could have been, evoking deep reflection and nostalgia. Corbin considers this the moral center of Company B, emphasizing its emotional depth.
  • Bei Mir Bist du Schön (finale)
    • The closing number begins with an explosion onstage, representing the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan. It indicates that the world has forever changed. It has shifted from joyful idealism to a somber reflection on loss. The characters from the previous dances begin to leave the stage, showing that it is only a memory, until only the “bugle boy” remains.

About Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor (1930-2018) was one of the most accomplished artists this nation has ever produced. He established the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1954, serving as both a virtuoso performer and a trailblazing choreographer until 1974, when he turned exclusively to choreography. During his 64-year career as a dancemaker, Mr. Taylor helped define and shape the art of American modern dance through a matchless repertoire of 147 works with an extraordinary range of subject matter. One of the world’s leading dance organizations, the Paul Taylor Dance Company is based in New York City and has vast international reach. Under the artistic direction of Michael Novak, who has taken the Company in bold new directions over the past seven years, it continues to innovate, create and transform.

Artists of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre | Photography: Justin Merriman