Why is Bill T Jones Important?

Bill T Jones has contributed not only his talent of choreography but also his skill in thinking outside the box.  Jones has shared his life with his dancers and audience and has not been afraid to be explicit, honest, and innovative.  His choreography is distinguished by storytelling, gestural movements, and deconstructionism.  Jones is able to tell stories, often provocative, through text and movement. 

“Last Supper at Uncle Tom's Cabin/The Promised Land” was basically a three hour discourse on freedom, complete with about 70 nearly nude performers.  “Still/Here” was a controversial work that put the stories of volunteers with narratives about their life-threatening illnesses.  These works are among Jones’s repertoire which changed modern dance and allowed the field to put world and life issues right in the faces of the audience.  Jones is not afraid to directly address taboo topics and really examine their significance, which is why he is so important to the field of modern dance.