Dante Puleio on Dance, Identity, and Leading the Limón Legacy into the 21st Century
Photo Credit: Kelly Puleio
Choreographer and Limón Dance Company Artistic Director Dante Puleio shares how his early love of movement, queer identity, and commitment to legacy shape his approach to dance, leadership, and reimagining José Limón’s vision for today’s world.
What's a typical day in your life look like?:
I've got a 8 month old puppy that dominates the morning flow, but once she is taken care the day starts with 20 minute bike ride through Central Park. A good place to clear my head and plan for the day and week ahead of me. Thinking and dreaming big, then getting more and more granular until I get to my to do list and emails, observe the Company in class and rehearsal. In the evenings I get to see a lot of dance and theater.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?:
I remember when I was about to rehearse The Moor's Pavane for the first time as Artistic Director. I started watching the run and thought, this is it, I get to watch some of the most iconic dances danced by some of the most iconic dancers every day now. This is my life, what a gift. What an incredible gift.
How would you say your upbringing and cultural background contributed to your career aspirations?:
I started wiggling and dancing to Donna Summer and Micheal Jackson before I could walk, at 4 and 5 years old I was composing full ballets to their albums - new ones, everyday that I made my mom sit through. Although I didn't start any formal training until much later in life (19 yrs old) it was those early years of performing in a small 1 bedroom apt for my mom that set me up for where I am today.
What would you say is a common question or concern you get from your clients/followers?:
Dance can feel inaccessible or challenging to understand. I often get asked about how to understand it more.
What would you say has been your biggest obstacle in launching a successful career? How have you overcome it?:
Defining what success is before going after something and not getting in your own way once you know where you want to go. I can't say I've overcome it, but I work to reflect and plan and try my best to work with my personal insecurities and people pleasing inclinations in a way that allows the ideas and the work to shine through.
What is the phrase, sentence, or conversation that stopped you in your tracks and changed your outlook in life?:
Imagine if you rehearsed the way you just performed, imagine what would have been possible for you tonight. - Donald McKayle
What are you committed to doing no matter what happens?:
Guiding the Limón Legacy to the next generation of caretakers.
Where might you be found on a Saturday afternoon with no plans?:
Depends on what I did Friday night.
If you were to meet 10 year old you, what would you say to them?:
Be as gay as you want - they're gonna make fun of you anyway.
When are you the happiest?:
When the curtain comes down and people jump to their feet for the 6th night in a row.
What is stopping you?:
What other people think.
Hustle culture and burnout is so prominent in our community. How do you prioritize self care?:
Time with friends and time by myself.
Same goes for imposter syndrome. How do you combat those feelings (if any)?:
It is less about combating them but listening to why those feelings are coming up, figuring out what are they really saying, what are they trying to protect me from and deciding if I have the tools to get through it if I fail.
When have you felt like you had to hide or change parts of yourself to fit in or be accepted?
As a young person I knew something was different about me and whatever that difference was, it was going to be considered wrong, I think I spent most of my adolescence not able to figure out who I was because I was so busy trying to hide it.
Drink ☕
What is Dante’s go-to drink?
Well, an iced skim latte in the summer or a cappuccino in the winter, but really I could just drink 1/4 gallon of milk a day!
Listening To 🎧
What is Dante listening to at the moment?
I usually have a solo female vocalist playing - pop or folk.
Your Truth 🗣️
What is a Dante’s truth?
I pull from aspects of who José Limón was, why he made the works he did and pair those explorations with his repertory, and commissioning contemporary choreographers working from similar places to create new work. This process of deconstructing an artist while asking dancers to live inside those works continually gives us a chance to find deeper levels of empathy.
Your Plug 🔌
What is Dante plugging today?
This work and program is for someone who is available to sit in the unknown, who can appreciate watching artists create an unforgettable evening of drama. It is a ride through history that brings us to an exciting and awe inspiring present and future.
More about Dante Puleio
A widely respected former member of the Limón Dance Company for more than a decade, Puleio is the sixth Artistic Director in the Company’s 79-year history, a position that originated with Doris Humphrey. After a diverse performing career with the Limón Dance Company, touring national and international musical theatre productions, television and film, he received his MFA from University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on contextualizing mid 20th century dance for the contemporary artist and audience. He is committed to implementing that research by celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the rapidly shifting 21st century landscape.
The Limón Dance Company is returning to 92NY to close the Harkness Dance Center 90th anniversary season with performances on May 21 and 22 of 2025. Get tickets here.