Photos: Alice Castro\Nir Arieli\Nicole Tintle
NEW YORK — December 2, 2025 — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater welcomes audiences of all ages to experience the highly anticipated New York City Center season with the Family Matinee Series—performances on Saturdays at 2pm ending with the uplifting must-see masterpiece Revelations, which are followed by Q&A sessions with Ailey’s extraordinary dancers. Whether experiencing the magic of Ailey for the first time or returning to enjoy the inaugural season led by Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, audiences can expect to be inspired by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s performances, which have become a joyous holiday tradition.
Select Family Matinee performances will introduce audiences to the season’s world premieres such as Maija García’s first work for AILEY, Jazz Island(December 6 & 13), which brings an Afro-Caribbean folktale to life, inspired by a story by Geoffrey Holder, and Medhi Walerski’s Blink of an Eye(January 3), an intriguing piece that probes the relationship between dance and music. Additional special programs include Ailey Classics(December 20), which features excerpts from Mr. Ailey’s timeless ballets.
Every Saturday matinee concludes with Alvin Ailey’s Revelations—one of the most acclaimed and cherished ballets in the history of dance, acclaimed as a must-see for all. Since its debut in 1960, Revelations has been seen by more people than any other modern dance work and has moved audiences around the world through its powerful storytelling and moving spirituals, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope, and transcendence. Springing from Mr. Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the south and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural African American heritage and is a universal celebration of the human spirit. The December 6 Family Matinee performance will feature a special live music performance of Revelations with a soul-stirring choir.
This holiday season, Ailey Extension is “giving dance back to the people” with a special promotion inviting Ailey fans to join in the dance for FREE. New students who see an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance during the 2025 engagement at New York City Center can redeem their ticket for a complimentary dance or fitness class of their choice. This exclusive offer can be redeemed until January 31, 2026.
AILEY is pleased to offer programs for the next generation of dancers. The Ailey School’s Junior Division offers year-round dance training for students ages 3 to 17, ranging from introductory classes for preschoolers to curriculum-based programs preparing students for professional careers in dance. Ailey Extension’s Kids & Teens classes for dancers ages 2-17 offers instruction in ballet, contemporary, and/or hip hop in a supportive atmosphere with their peers during weekly classes. To learn more about Ailey Extension’s programming for kids, teens, and adults, or to sign up for a class please visit ailey.org/classes. To learn more about The Ailey School’s Junior Division classes, visit ailey.org/training.
The compelling story of the life, work, and legacy of Alvin Ailey is also the subject of Portrait of Ailey, a new eight part documentary series, Created by Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters, available for free on ailey.org or PBS LearningMedia, with accompanying educational resources for teachers and students.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | –December 3, 2025 – January 4, 2026
New York City Center – 131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, New York, NY
Tickets starting at $45 (including fees) are on sale now at the New York City Center box office, through CityTix® at (212) 581-1212, or at www.ailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org.
FAMILY MATINEE PERFORMANCES – Program Subject to Change, click here for the latest schedule.
· Saturday, December 6 at 2pm – Jazz Island / Following the Subtle Current Upstream, A Song for You / Revelations (w/ live music)
· Saturday, December 13 at 2pm – Jazz Island / Many Angels, Treading / Revelations
· Saturday, December 20 at 2pm – Ailey Classics
· Saturday, December 27 at 2pm – Sacred Songs / Treading, Revelations
· Saturday, January 3 at 2pm – Blink of an Eye, A Case of You / Grace / Revelations
For more information, visit ailey.org.www.ailey.orgailey.org.
