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Bill T. Jones, born 1952
2017 Portrait of a Nation Prize Recipient
Born Bunnell, Florida
One of the most innovative dancers, directors, and choreographers of our time, Bill T. Jones's performances are eloquent expressions of movement and thoughtful thematic meditations. Since founding a dance company with his late partner Arnie Zane in 1982, Jones has used dance to explore contemporary ideas about identity, race, and sexuality. He often focuses on themes of grief and death, especially in his acclaimed 1994 performance "Still/Here," which included the participation of terminally ill men and women. His recent "Analogy Trilogy" explores his family's stories, including those of his mother-in-law, a Holocaust survivor; and those of his nephew, a promising dancer and performer who is now grappling with AIDS-related illnesses. Jones has received a MacArthur "genius" award, two Tony Awards, the National Medal for the Arts, and many other honors.
Robert Mapplethorpe, 1985 |