Paul Taylor Dance Company

We scored first row seats again. Hot damn. First row isn't the best — it's hard to see the dancers' feet — but for us short people, it's heaven to not have to bob my head to see between the heads in front of me, heads that often move because people fidget.

So we saw "Aureole," set to music by Handel, which is a beautiful dance and had a nice solo for Patrick Corbin even if it doesn't play to his strengths because it's a slow, emotional piece and he to me usually looks better doing the more athletic pieces, though given his age, which is getting up there for a dancer, might not be something he can do as well as he used to, not doubt part of the reason he's retiring after this show.

"Three Epitaphs" was next and is just weird. I've seen it a couple of times before but not for many years. The costumes, designed by Robert Rauschenberg, cover the entire body, faces included. It's short and very likeable. The music is an early form of jazz.

"Dante Variations," a new dance was odd and fun to watch. The music was by Ligeti and the men were bare chested (and fine specimens, all) with the leotard pants and the tiny tops for the women some kind of animal print. Some sort of limbo or purgatory scenario, but the dancers seemed almost animal-like and three were "hobbled" for much of the piece: one blindfolded, one with legs bound at the knee, and one with wrists tied behind her. A fourth danced with a cloth tied to one ankle and floating about his feet as he danced. This could quickly become a favorite of mine.

Rounding out the matinee was "Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rehearsal)," with music by Stravinsky. My friend C and I saw it last week, but it wonderful and fun and Lisa Viola's mad with grief solo near the end is nothing short of amazing. She's manic and dances it so well.