Camille A. Brown. Photo: Whitney Browne
Beginning this weekend, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the Choreography Unlocked Festival as part of the “Ailey Ascending” 60th Anniversary celebration. Building on Artistic Director Robert Battle’s New Directions Choreography Lab, the festival on October 12-14 and 26-28 will include performances of works by New Directions alumni Camille A. Brown, Juel D. Lane, and Netta Yerushalmy; panel discussions featuring leaders from the worlds of dance, theater, and visual arts, and a master class led by Robert Battle.
The schedule for Weekend 1 of Choreography Unlocked includes:
Friday, October 12
Conversation with Robert Battle and Ronald K. Brown: Unlocking the Mystery of Choreography, 6-7pm.
Ailey artistic director Robert Battle discusses the creative choreographic process in conversation with choreographer Ronald K. Brown.
Performance: Choreography Unlocked, 8-9:15pm.
The evening performance includes PICTOGRAMS by Netta Yerushalmy, Juel D. Lane’s dance film, Daydream, as well as a solo and duet from his work Touch & Agree, and Camille A. Brown performs a solo from her work Mr. Tol E. RAncE.
Saturday, October 13
Panel Discussion: Nurturing New Voices, 4-5:30pm.
Robert Battle moderates a conversation about how institutions can encourage emerging artists across genres, featuring panelists Thelma Golden (Studio Museum of Harlem), Rennie Harris (Puremovement, Ailey’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence), Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Yale School of Drama), Shanta Thake (Public Theater), and Darren Walker (The Ford Foundation).
Performance: Choreography Unlocked, 8-9:15pm.
The evening performance includes PICTOGRAMS by Netta Yerushalmy, Juel D. Lane’s dance film, Daydream, as well as a solo and duet from his work Touch & Agree, and Camille A. Brown performs a solo from her work Mr. Tol E. RAncE.
Sunday, October 14
Workshop: Robert Battle Teaches at Ailey Extension, 12-2pm.
A rare opportunity for the public to learn Ailey artistic director Robert Battle’s rhythmical, edgy and high-flying movement style in a class that promises to awaken your creativity.
The festival continues October 26-28, including a free panel discussion on Saturday, October 27 at 8pm with Dianne McIntyre, Matthew Rushing, Eva Yaa Asantewaa, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, moderated by Judy Hussie-Taylor.
All activities take place at Ailey’s home – The Joan Weill Center for Dance (405 West 55th Street).
Click here for tickets to festival events.
