MTI Concert Dance announced it has entered into an agreement to exclusively license a series of choreographic works by modern dance pioneer José Limón to professional companies worldwide, expanding its growing catalog of concert dance repertory.

The licensing division of Music Theatre International said Limón becomes the second choreographer to be represented in its catalog. In September 2024, MTI Concert Dance began licensing more than 60 ballets and theater dance works by Jerome Robbins through an agreement with The Robbins Rights Trust.

Launched in March 2024, MTI Concert Dance aims to sustain and expand the legacy of choreographers by providing professional licensing services for copyrighted works. The division is led by dancer, choreographer and educator Elizabeth Parkinson and is the first organization of its kind to work directly with choreographers and dance companies to license repertory internationally.

Allen Greenberg, trustee of The Robbins Rights Trust, said the initiative will help preserve landmark works in the dance canon.

“Just as MTI has actively kept musical theater classics alive and thriving, they will use those same talents to sustain the legacy and artistic vision of choreographers worldwide in a way that has never been attempted before,” Greenberg said.

Under the agreement, MTI Concert Dance will license professional productions of 19 Limón works, including “Chaconne,” “A Choreographic Offering,” “Danzas Mexicanas,” “The Emperor Jones,” “Missa Brevis,” “The Moor’s Pavane,” “Psalm,” “There is a Time,” “The Traitor” and “The Unsung.” The José Limón Dance Foundation will continue to manage educational and nonprofessional licenses directly.

Parkinson said her connection to Limón’s repertory dates back to her early career with The Joffrey Ballet, where “The Moor’s Pavane” was a staple of the season.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to observe these passionate performances from the wings of New York City Center, and am honored to now represent and advocate for the works of José Limón,” Parkinson said.

Dante Puleio, artistic director of the Limón Dance Company, called the partnership historic, noting that it brings together the global reach of MTI and the 80-year legacy of Limón’s repertory.

Limón, born in 1908 in Culiacán, Mexico, was one of the most prominent figures in American modern dance. After moving to the United States as a child, he studied with pioneers Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman before founding his own company in 1946. His works often explored themes drawn from literature, religion and history and helped redefine the role of the male dancer in modern dance.

Best known for “The Moor’s Pavane,” inspired by Shakespeare’s “Othello,” Limón choreographed more than 70 works before his death in 1972.

Founded in 1946 by Limón and Humphrey, the Limón Dance Company remains a leading force in modern dance, touring internationally and preserving the choreographer’s repertory through performance, education and archival work.

Additional information about MTI Concert Dance is available through Music Theatre International.

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