Bill T. Jones Company to End Performances in 2027

The 45-year-old Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will conclude its touring and performances in December 2027, with a final retrospective project set to premiere in March.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Dance

Photograph of a bare wooden theater stage lit by a single warm overhead spotlight, with dust motes in the beam and a dark velvet curtain at the back. — The 45-year-old Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will end its performances and touring in December 2027, with a retrospective project premiering in March. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company will conclude its performances and touring in December 2027, closing a 45-year run founded in 1982 by Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane. A retrospective project, Memory Palace, will premiere at a two-week festival at New York Live Arts in March 2027.

Why it matters

The Company has created more than 140 works and performed in over 200 cities, making its conclusion a notable marker for American modern dance. Jones, who is approaching his 75th birthday, is shaping a final chapter for the Company he has led since Zane's death in 1988.

The Company has operated for 45 years and received six Bessie Awards in the Choreographer/Creator category, according to the organization's stated history. Specific ticket sales and attendance figures for the final tour were not disclosed, and additional programming details are still to be announced.

The players

Bill T. Jones

Bill T. Jones is a choreographer who co-founded the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in 1982 and serves as its Artistic Director, and he is also the Founding Artistic Director of New York Live Arts.

New York Live Arts

New York Live Arts is a performing arts organization formed in 2011 through the merger of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and Dance Theater Workshop.

The details

The Company's final year will feature Memory Palace, a retrospective project beginning with a two-week festival at New York Live Arts. The final tour will present performances across the United States and internationally, culminating in a performance at Park Avenue Armory on December 31, 2027.

November 20-22, 2026: Company performances begin at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston.
March 3-13, 2027: Memory Palace premieres at New York Live Arts festival.
March 15, 2027: Special presentation at the New York Live Arts Gala.
December 2027: Company concludes performances and touring.
December 31, 2027: Culminating performance at Park Avenue Armory.

Industry Dynamics

The Company's conclusion arrives as its operations have been integrated into New York Live Arts since 2011, when it merged with Dance Theater Workshop. Jones will remain Founding Artistic Director of that institution, so the organization's programming continues beyond the Company's final tour.

Audiences can see the Company's final performances on tour, beginning with November 20-22, 2026 at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston. Its last appearance is the December 31, 2027 performance at Park Avenue Armory in New York, with additional dates still to be announced.

The takeaway

Audiences interested in the Company's work should plan ahead for its final tour, since additional dates and programming will be announced in coming months. Memory Palace offers an early opportunity to see its retrospective work at New York Live Arts in March 2027.

What happens next

Memory Palace premieres at New York Live Arts March 3-13, 2027, with a special presentation at the New York Live Arts Gala on March 15, 2027, and the Company's culminating performance at Park Avenue Armory is set for December 31, 2027.