By Alvin Ailey Dance
Photos: Alvin Ailey Dance Theater\Paul Kolnik
After a rousing first week launched by an Opening Night Gala honoring luminary Jody Gottfried Arnhold with Honorary Chairs Gayle King, co-host of CBS Mornings and Editor-at-Large of Oprah Daily, and Phylicia Rashad, two-time Tony® Award-winning actress; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2024-25 season celebrating ‘Legacy in Motion’ and the life of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison moves forward with inspiring performances of acclaimed works and new pieces from a variety of choreographers for whom Alvin Ailey and Ms. Jamison paved the way. (View the 2024 Opening Night Gala Sizzle Reel)
On Thursday, December 12 at 7:30pm Many Angels, Lar Lubovitch’s first world premiere for the Company, makes its debut featuring his lush choreography and musicality set to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. A choreographer for 60 years, Lubovitch has frequently been asked: “Why do you make dances?” For Lubovitch, “Something may exist in the world simply for the sake of itself. For example, a dance.” Many Angels is inspired by a question posed by 13th century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?,” illustrating that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith. It is not really about angels. (Well, maybe a little). [There are 7 more chances to see Many Angels this season: Dec. 14 eve, Dec. 15 eve, Dec. 17 eve, Dec. 21 eve, Dec. 22 mat, Jan. 1 eve, Jan. 5 mat].
Thursday’s program also includes the season’s first performances of returning favorites Memoria— Alvin Ailey’s moving tribute created in remembrance of his dear friend and colleague Joyce Trisler; and Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s dreamlike duet Me, Myself and You. The evening ends with Ailey’s signature masterpiece Revelations.
On Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm former Ailey dancer Hope Boykin returns to explore personal freedoms for the world premiere of Finding Free – her collaboration with pianist Matthew Whitaker who has composed an original score for this piece. This insightful work uses Boykin’s movement-language and Whitaker’s jazz and gospel influenced music to examine the challenges and restrictions throughout life’s peaks and valleys that propel the journey forward. Matthew Whitaker will perform live onstage on December 13 at 7:30pm and December 14 at 7:30pm. [There are 7 more chances to see Finding Free this season: Dec 14 mat, Dec. 15 eve, Dec. 17 eve, Dec. 26 eve, Dec. 28 mat, Jan. 3 eve, Jan. 5 eve]
- Go behind the scenes with Hope Boykin’s Finding Free on PIX 11 News.
Friday’s program also includes Jamar Roberts’ Ode – a meditation on the beauty and fragility of life in a time of growing gun violence; and concludes with Ailey’s must-see Revelations.
Ailey’s amazing artists continue to celebrate Judith Jamison throughout the week with moving works that embody her grace and unparalleled force as a dancer. The Wednesday, December 11 7:30pm program features Ronald K. Brown’s Dancing Spirit – a moving tribute to Ms. Jamison’s profound influence set to music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, and War. Saturday and Sunday matinee performances include Alvin Ailey’s Cry – the iconic role originated by Ms. Jamison which catapulted her to international stardom – as part of an ‘All Ailey’ Program presenting four works by our beloved founder including the moving tribute Memoria, tour-de-force male solo A Song for You excerpted from Love Songs, and the timeless Revelations.
This week kicks off on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30pm with encore performances of Jamar Roberts’ world premiere Al-Andalus Blues and Ronald K. Brown’s rapturous Grace.
- Read about Ronald K. Brown’s Grace in The New York Times
In addition to enjoying live performances, Ailey fans across the globe are invited to join in the dance during Ailey Extension’s Legacy Workshop series, encouraging all to learn to move like an Ailey dancer with help from former Company members. The series continues Saturday, December 14 at 3:30pm with AILEY Classics Workshop featuring excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s Memoria taught by Sarita Allen.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19: TREADING – NEW PRODUCTION
On Thursday December 19 at 7:30pm a new production of Elisa Monte’s Treadingdebuts with two dancers in this sculptural, mesmerizing duet coming together in fluid, intricate movements that combine with Steve Reich’s meditative music to create an aura of mystery and sensuality.
Performance Dates: Dec. 19 eve, Dec. 21 eve, Dec. 26 eve, Dec. 28 eve, Dec. 29 eve, Dec. 31 eve, Jan. 1 eve, Jan. 4 eve, Jan. 5 mat
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20: SACRED SONGS – WORLD PREMIERE
On Friday December 20 at 7:30pm Sacred Songs from Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing makes its debut, featuring music used in the original 1960 premiere of Alvin Ailey’s seminal Revelations but later omitted when the piece was edited into the current version that has captivated audiences for decades. Drawing inspiration from the roots of Mr. Ailey’s most venerated and consummate creation, this stirring new work will resurrect and reimagine those spirituals—with the collaboration of musical director Du’Bois A’Keen—as an offering to our present need for lamentation, faith, and joy. Live music accompanies performances on December 20 at 7pm and December 22 at 2pm.
Performance Dates: Dec. 20 eve, Dec. 21 mat, Dec. 22 mat, Dec. 24 mat, Dec. 27 eve, Dec. 28 eve, Jan. 1 eve Jan. 3 eve
ALL NEW
Witness several of the season’s premieres and new productions at once during an ‘All New’ program. On Tuesday December 17 at 7:30pm fans can check out Hope Boykin’s Finding Free, Lar Lubovitch’s Many Angels, and Ronald K. Brown’s Grace.
Performance Dates: Dec. 22 mat, 27 eve, 28 eve; Jan. 1, 3, 5 mat
AILEY CLASSICS
On Wednesday, December 18 the beloved Ailey Classics program highlights a selection of repertory spanning the breadth of Mr. Ailey’s rich catalog, including excerpts of Memoria, Night Creature (sections 2&3), Pas de Duke, Opus McShann (Doo Wah), Love Songs, Reflections in D, Masekela Langage (Morolo), For ‘Bird’ – with Love, and Cry. The program concludes with Revelations.
Performance Dates: Dec. 18, Dec. 29 mat, Jan. 4 mat
FAMILY MATINEE SERIES
Each Saturday afternoon, bring the whole family to enjoy the performance and stay for a Q & A with Ailey dancers moderated by AILEY teaching artist and former Company member Amos Machanic in the theater following the inspiring finale of Revelations, acclaimed as a must-see for all ages.
Performance Dates: Dec. 14 mat, Dec. 21 mat, Dec. 28 mat, Jan. 4 mat
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS AT AILEY
AILEY CLASSICS WORKSHOP
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 3:30PM | The Ailey Studios and Online
Join world-renowned former Ailey dancer Sarita Allen on Saturday, December 14 at 3:30pm for her signature Ailey Classics workshop in celebration of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s performances at New York City Center. This year, students are invited to learn excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s iconic ballet Memoria. Choreographed in 1979, Alvin Ailey’s Memoria is a deeply personal work and one of his most affecting as it was created in remembrance of his dear friend and colleague Joyce Trisler. He dedicated the ballet “to the joy…the beauty…the creativity…and the wild spirit of my friend,” and set it to the sublime music of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. This Ailey Classics workshop is part of a series of four legacy workshops from Ailey Extension inviting fans to learn classic Ailey steps from former Company members.
CONTEMPORARY BALLET MASTERCLASS DON BELLAMY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 AT 3:30PM | The Ailey Studios
Former Ailey dancer and master ballet instructor Don Bellamy returns to AILEY on Saturday, December 21 at 3:30pm for a special contemporary ballet masterclass where students will sharpen their technical ballet skills and learn original choreography. This Contemporary Ballet Masterclass is part of a series of four legacy workshops from Ailey Extension inviting fans to learn classic Ailey movement from former Company members.
