Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Presented by Celebrity Series of Boston
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DateMay 2 - 5, 2024
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VenueWang Theatre
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Ticket PricesStart at $29
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AvailabilityOn Sale Now
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Parking
Showings
Event Details
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance.
The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents – as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms.
In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution designated the Company as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world” that celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage. When Mr. Ailey began creating dances, he drew upon his "blood memories" of Texas, the blues, spirituals, and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work, Revelations. Although he created 79 ballets over his lifetime, Mr. Ailey maintained that his company was not exclusively a repository for his own work.
Today, the Company continues Mr. Ailey's mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones. In all, more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers have been part of the Ailey company’s repertory.
Before his untimely death in 1989, Alvin Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and over the next 21 years, she brought the Company to unprecedented success. Ms. Jamison, in turn, personally selected Robert Battle to succeed her in 2011, and The New York Times declared he “has injected the company with new life.”
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater gratefully acknowledges The Joan & Sandy Weill Global Ambassador Fund, which provides vital support for Ailey’s national and international tours.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater runs approximately 2 hours*, including 2 intermissions.
*The performance on Saturday, May 4 at 2pm is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Group Information
Performance Programs
Explore the programs that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform in May 2024: new works, an Ailey Classics matinee, and Revelations every performance!
Thursday, May 2 at 8pm & Sunday, May 5 at 3pm
CENTURY by Amy Hall Garner (2023)
Intermission
Ode by Jamar Roberts (2019)
Intermission
Revelations by Alvin Ailey (1960)
CENTURY
Amy Hall Garner created this dance as a gift for her grandfather, Henry Spooner, for his 100th birthday. The work is a birthday party: a celebration. It’s glittery, colorful, fast, and joyful.
The music is based on Mr. Spooner's favorites: big bands like Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans. We hear from the honoree himself with recorded voiceover reflecting on his longevity.
Ode
Former company dancer Jamar Roberts (who retired from the stage in 2021) created Ode as a meditation on the beauty and fragility of life in a time of gun violence. The piece is powerful, mournful, and meditative, and set to avant-garde jazz piano music by Don Pullen: “Suite (Sweet) Malcolm (Part 1 Memories and Gunshots)” (1975).
Revelations
The must-see, company-defining work that audiences love! Alvin Ailey’s signature work is a tribute to his African American heritage and his upbringing in small-town Texas. Revelations fervently explores the deepest grief and holiest joy.
Friday, May 3 at 8pm & Saturday, May 4 at 8pm
Following the Subtle Current Upstream by Alonzo King (2000, new production 2023)
Intermission
Dancing Spirit by Ronald K. Brown (2009, new production 2023)
Intermission
Revelations by Alvin Ailey (1960)
Following the Subtle Current Upstream
Alonzo King’s work investigates deeply rooted affinities between Western and Eastern classical forms, elemental materials, the natural world, and the human spirit. Described by King as “a piece about how to return to joy,” Following the Subtle Current Upstream reminds us that everything in nature seeks to return to its source. Abstract but steeped in meaning, King’s movement sets the dancers in constant flow to an eclectic score by Zakir Hussain, Miriam Makeba, and Miguel Frasconi.
Dancing Spirit
This is a must-see work for longtime Ailey company fans: it’s a tribute to Artistic Director Emerita and longtime Ailey prima donna Judith Jamison. The title references Miss Jamison’s autobiography of the same name. Brown’s choreography evokes movement styles from Cuba, Brazil, and the United States, and the music features selections by Wynton Marsalis, Duke Ellington, War, and string orchestration of a Radiohead selection.
Revelations
The must-see, company-defining work that audiences love! Alvin Ailey’s signature work is a tribute to his African American heritage and his upbringing in small-town Texas. Revelations fervently explores the deepest grief and holiest joy.
Saturday, May 4 at 2pm: Ailey Classics
All choreography by Alvin Ailey.
Memoria, excerpts (1979)
Night Creature, excerpts (1974)
Intermission
Pas de Duke, excerpt (1976)
Masekela Langage, excerpt (1969)
Opus McShann, excerpt (1988)
Love Songs, excerpt (1972)
For 'Bird' - With Love, excerpt 1 (1984)
Reflections In D (1963)
For 'Bird' - With Love, excerpt 2 (1984)
Intermission
Revelations (1960)
Ailey Classics, Acts I and II
This two-act journey through highlights of Mr. Ailey's extensive catalogue is theatrical, jazzy, colorful, and accessible. It's a great choice for music lovers as well: the score features selections by Duke Ellington, Keith Jarret, Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone, and more.
Revelations
The must-see, company-defining work that audiences love! Alvin Ailey’s signature work is a tribute to his African American heritage and his upbringing in small-town Texas. Revelations fervently explores the deepest grief and holiest joy.
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