Michael Novak
MICHAEL NOVAK, Artistic Director of Paul Taylor Dance Company, is carving a profound mark in the dance industry with an unwavering commitment to usher in a new era of expansion for the Taylor organization, driven by his passion for artistic innovation, preservation, and education. Before assuming his role as Artistic Director, Novak built an impressive career as a critically acclaimed Taylor dancer, hailed by The New York Times as “a marvel of plasticity and penetrating imagination.” In 2018, after 8 years of performing with the Company, Paul Taylor appointed Novak as his successor, entrusting him with the responsibility of preserving and evolving the Company. That same year, Novak officially became Artistic Director after Paul Taylor’s death, and retired from performing shortly thereafter.
Under Novak’s direction, the Taylor Company continues to innovate and transform the landscape of 21st-century dance performance and education. Founded in 1954 by cultural icon Paul Taylor (1930-2018), one of America’s most celebrated artists, the Company remains one of the preeminent performing ensembles in the world, driven by a belief that dance is able to convey complex truths about the human experience. Together with the best dancers, choreographers, educators, and creatives, Novak oversees robust domestic and international touring; an ever-expanding repertory that includes both Paul Taylor’s groundbreaking work alongside new choreographic voices to reflect contemporary themes and diverse perspectives; several educational programs that inspires tens of thousands students in the New York City public school system; a recent expansion to large new headquarters in Midtown Manhattan; and an annual season at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City with its partners Orchestra of St. Luke’s, bringing the finest repertory to audiences on a scale rare for the artform.
Born with a passion for movement and expression, Novak’s formal dance education began at a young age in his hometown of Rolling Meadows, Illinois. He studied at University of the Arts, The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Springboard Danse Montréal, and The Taylor Center for Dance Education. In 2005, Novak was admitted to the School of General Studies, where he received scholarships for academic excellence. He was one of the first members of the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, and, upon graduation, received his BA in Dance magna cum laude with Departmental Honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
As a distinguished alumnus, he continues to host Columbia students, alumni, and faculty at Taylor performances in cities across the country and during the Company’s annual season at Lincoln Center. He also collaborates annually with Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs with a performance and lecture series on how the performing arts respond to - and sometimes predict – socio-political conflict. He served as the Keynote Speaker for the School of General Studies Class of 2020, and is a proud member of their Board of Visitors.