The Moor's Pavane

A distilled tragedy told through the formal elegance of Renaissance court dance, The Moor’s Pavane is José Limón’s timeless masterwork. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Othello, the ballet focuses on four characters—the Moor, his wife, his friend, and the friend’s wife—whose interactions reveal a devastating story of jealousy and betrayal. Set to stately Baroque music by Henry Purcell, this haunting, intimate work strips the narrative to its emotional core, offering a powerful meditation on human vulnerability and fate.