NEW YORK — Paul Taylor, a towering figure of US modern dance who imbued his choreography with joyful, poetic exuberance, has died, his eponymous company said on Thursday. He was 88.

Taylor, who died on Wednesday, played a seminal role in the advent of modern dance.

“Paul Taylor was one of the world’s greatest dance makers, and his passing deeply saddens not only those of us who worked with him, but also people all over the world whose spirits have been touched by his incomparable art,” said Paul Taylor Dance Foundation artistic director Michael Novak.

“We are grateful for your love and support as we begin to carry on his legacy with the utmost fidelity and devotion,” added Novak, a much-lauded Paul Taylor Dance Company member who Taylor picked earlier this year to serve as his successor.

Taylor created 147 dances since 1954, performed by Paul Taylor Dance Company, its smaller ensemble Taylor 2 as well as other dance companies around the world.

“He was a great storyteller through his dance, and he was America’s master modern choreographer,” said Ashley Roland, co-artistic director of the Bodyvox dance company based in Portland, Oregon.

“He created a strong dance vernacular, especially through men, in pieces like ‘Arden Court’ and ‘Cloven Kingdom.’ He was a swimmer, and his arm movement drove his dance with power and grace.” — AFP