David Parsons

David Parsons is an American dancer, choreographer, and artistic director whose athletic, theatrical repertory brought contemporary dance to broad touring audiences. Raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Parsons moved to New York at seventeen on scholarship to The Ailey School, then entered the Paul Taylor Dance Company as an understudy in 1978. Over the next nine years, he became a leading dancer, performing roles Taylor created to showcase his speed, attack, elevation, and stage presence, including parts in *Arden Court*, *Last Look*, and *Roses*.

While still with Taylor, Parsons began choreographing. His 1982 solo *Caught* became his signature work. Using precisely timed strobe lighting, a dancer appears repeatedly suspended in midair, turning jump technique and light into a cinematic sequence perceived live. The effect depends on athletic consistency and on close collaboration between choreography and lighting design—a partnership that would become central to Parsons' artistic vision.

In 1985, Parsons and lighting designer Howell Binkley co-founded Parsons Dance. The company developed an energized ensemble repertory and an extensive touring profile, with performances reported across more than 445 cities, 30 countries, and five continents. Parsons concluded his tenure with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 1987 and presented Parsons Dance at Jacob's Pillow's Inside/Out festival that same year.

Parsons has created more than seventy-five works for his company and accepted commissions from major organizations including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Dance Festival, and Jacob's Pillow. His work extends into large public events and hybrid productions; he co-produced *AEROS*, which featured Romanian gymnasts, and directed and choreographed dance elements for New York's Times Square 2000 celebration.

Across his career, Parsons has pursued audience connection through clarity, musicality, theatrical devices, and physically generous dancing. His honors include the 2000 *Dance Magazine* Award, a 2001 American Choreography Award for his work as co-producer of *AEROS*, and the 2018 Capezio Award. In 2024, Parsons Dance returned to Jacob's Pillow with *Caught* in the announced repertory.