Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- 2013 SEASON OF INSPIRATION!
21-City United States Tour January – May

Artistic Director Robert Battle’s Second Season Adds Dynamic Choreographic Voices with Premieres and New Productions
Broadening Repertory & Giving Ailey’s Extraordinary Dancers More Ways to Inspire.

On January 30th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, will embark on a 21-city US tour hitting major markets such as Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston among many others. During his second season as Artistic Director Robert Battle will continue to surprise and delight audiences with premieres and new productions expanding his vision for the company by adding dynamic choreographic voices to the repertory that give Ailey’s extraordinary dancers more ways to inspire. Season highlights include (complete tour programming will be announced in January):

Another Night, a world premiere by rising young choreographer Kyle Abraham that innovatively showcases the Ailey dancers and the many dynamic facets of American dance, from hip hop to ballet, with music composed by Dizzy Gillespie and recorded by Art Blakey.

Petite Mort, a ballet of breathtaking sensuality and visual surprises with fencing foils and elaborate ball gowns in an unforgettable battle of the sexes. Set to two of Mozart’s most popular piano concertos, it is the first work by renowned European choreographer Jiří Kylián to appear in the Ailey repertory.

From Before, an ensemble piece blending the rhythms of African dance with Caribbean influences crafted by Garth Fagan, the Tony Award-winning choreographer of The Lion King, to a jazzy percussive score by Grammy winner Ralph MacDonald.

Strange Humors, Artistic Director Robert Battle’s thrillingly intense duet set to John Mackey’s propulsive score for strings and African drum pitting two men against each other in surprising sequences that ignite with aggression and discord, mischievousness and humor, building to an exciting crescendo.

Grace, Ronald K. Brown’s landmark work, created for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1999, is a spiritually-charged journey acknowledging the grace that surrounds us all featuring Duke Ellington’s classic «Come Sunday,» Roy Davis’ hit «Gabriel,» and the powerful rhythms of Fela Kuti’s Afro-Pop.

Ailey Classics, a vibrant anthology of highlights from founder Alvin Ailey’s prolific 30-year career — including audience favorites and classics such as Cry, Love Songs and For ‘Bird’ With Love — culminating with his signature masterpiece Revelations, performed in its entirety.

Encore performances from Battle’s acclaimed first season will include modern dance master Paul Taylor’s Arden Court, hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris’ soul-lifting Home, and Ohad Naharin’s unique and innovative Minus 16, which features improvisation and audience involvement. Also, a variety of repertory favorites and classic Ailey works will be performed, including the must-see Revelations.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater inspires all in a universal celebration of the human spirit using the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition.

For further information, visit: www.alvinailey.org

PHOTO CREDITS: (Top to Bottom) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Antonio Douthit and Jacqueline Green Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Yannick Lebrun, Antonio Douthit and Kirven James Boyd; Artistic Director Robert Battle with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s A. Douthit, R. McLaren, J. Green, J. Roberts & A. Mack; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Yannick Lebrun; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Alicia Graf Mack. Photos by Andrew Eccles.

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