Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations (1960), remains one of the cornerstones of modern dance works. It remains a powerful testament to the human spirit. This cast includes Marilyn Banks, April Berry, Kevin Brown, Gary DeLoatch, Ralph Glenmore, Deborah Manning, Renee Robinson and Dudley Williams.
Tag: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
11/10/24 O&A NYC IN MEMORIAL: Judith Jamison (1943- 2024) Revelations Excerpts (Hollywood Palace 1968)
O&A NYC celebrates the life and Legacy of Judith Jamison.
“She was a unique, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity.”– Sylvia Waters The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). Continue reading
8/28/24 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Suite Otis -Cosby Celebrates Ailey
Cosby Celebrates Ailey was a the 1989 Television Special that showcased the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The show was recorded December 12, 1988 but not broadcast until over a year later. When the show finally aired it was as a tribute to Alvin Ailey who had died December 1, 1989. Continue reading
8/23/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Dudley Williams
By Walter Rutledge
Alvin Ailey dancer emeritus Dudley Williams would have celebrated his 85 birthday on August 18th. And although time is a very fickle and forgetful mistress Dudley remains of one the stars of the “Golden Age” of the Ailey company. His name is synonymous with dancers and choreographers such as Talley Beatty, John Butler, Louis Falco, George Faison, Miguel Godreau, Judith Jamison, Linda Kent, Kelvin Retardier,|Clive Thompson, Sara Yarborough, Estelle Spurlock and Donna Wood to name a few.
1/19/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Four Corners- Ronald K. Brown and Evidence: A Dance Company
Ronald K. Brown’s Four Corners was originally commissioned for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2014. Dancers depict spiritual seekers amid four angels standing on the corners of the earth, holding the four winds. Continue reading
1/3/23 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: The Genius of Alvin Ailey
By Walter Rutledge
Another bout of Covid (our third slow dance) prevented me from seeing the new works presented during the first and second weeks of the Ailey season. When Covid and I finished our Rumba, I attended an All-Ailey matinee featuring four works, Night Creature, Cry, Survivors and Revelations. Continue reading
11/17/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Robert Battle Resigns
From the Ailey Press Office
The Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation today announced that Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Ailey since 2011, has informed them that he needs to focus on his health and has submitted his resignation. The Board has accepted Mr. Battle’s resignation with regret. Mr. Battle will remain available to the Board through December 31, 2023. Continue reading
9/2/23 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Ulysses Dove Vespers
Ulysses Dove proclaiming a thoroughly exhilarating vision of female power and strength in Vespers. Inspired by Dove’s memories of his grandmother’s place of worship, this dramatic work showcases the athleticism and grace of six female dancers who are propelled by Mikel Rouse’s profound electronic score. Continue reading
6/11/23 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Ailey At BAM
By Walter Rutledge
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presented a Brooklyn dance series June 6th thru 11th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The six-day seven performance series offered two well curated programs of new works and Ailey classics. The Saturday evening performance consisted of four works by four modern dance luminaries, Kyle Abraham, Robert Battle, Ron Brown and Paul Taylor. Continue reading
2/24/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Rainbow Round My Shoulder- Donald McKayle with Mary Hinkson
Donald McKayle’s 1959 masterwork, Rainbow Round My Shoulder, is acclaimed as a modern dance classic. A searing dramatic narrative, it is set on a chain gang in the American south where prisoners work, breaking rock from “can see to can’t see.” Their aspirations for freedom come in the guise of a woman, first as a vision then as a remembered sweetheart, mother, and wife. The songs that accompany their arduous labor are rich in polyphony and tell a bitter, sardonic, and tragic story. It was created for the Donald McKayle Dance Company, and has been in the repertoire of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Batsheva Dance Company and Dayton Contemporary Dance, among others. The cast in the video excerpt includes Donald McKayle and Mary Hinkson. Continue reading