First Look at Ailey II’s New York Season Dress Rehearsal with Excerpts of the “All New” program (In & Out, Gêmeos, Something Tangible, I Am The Road) performed with full makeup and costuming

Ailey II’s New York Season at the Ailey Citigroup Theater
By Diane DiResta

After a 26 city tour, Ailey II kicked off their Spring season with an outstanding dress rehearsal performance on March 29, 2016. The performance took place at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City. Beginning March 30th to April 10th, there will be two programs, 14 performances by 12 of the country’s most talented young dancers.

Troy Powell, the Artistic Director, greeted the audience with a warm welcome, a wide smile, and an overview of the Ailey II philosophy. He quoted Alvin Ailey as saying, “Dance comes from the people and should be returned to the people.” And this feeling spurned the creation of Ailey II, which is a company of students. Ailey wanted students to go beyond taking classes and to experience real performances. Twelve of the top students were selected for Ailey II.
Ailey II is renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding emerging choreographers.

The one hour evening dress rehearsal program included four dance performances with one intermission.
This All New program opened with IN & OUT by Choreographer and Ailey alumnus Jean Emile. IN & OUT is a work for eight dancers that gives an honest look at the volatility of modern life. Emile uses a mix of dance techniques and a varied musical score by Alva Noto, Alberto Iglesias, and Jun Miyake.

Jamar Roberts made his choreographic debut with Gemeos which means “twins” in Portuguese. The dance was based on his relationship with his brother growing up as children. One was a dancer , the other an athlete. The audience experiences the dynamic between two contrasting personalities as they evolve from hostility to harmony. The musical energy is punctuated with heavy percussion, brass, and bass guitar and the dominating singing style of Afro beat star, Fela Kuti.

The third performance was Something Tangible by choreographer, Ray Mercer. The dance was inspired by everyday emotions that awaken the human spirit and in a series of vignettes the dancers convey sensations of love, passion, fear, and self doubt.  The music includes works by Max Richter, Olafur Amalds, Geoff Bennett and an original score by Bongi Duma.

The final work was I Am The Road by hip-hop choreographer Kyle “JustSole” Clark who gives the audience a glimpse into his life as a dancer. From struggles and triumphs, Clark creates his personal journal in dance form. House music by Vikter Duplaix, Jeff Samuel, Nuyorican Soul, and Markus Enochson bring light to Clark’s depictions of taking risks, falling in love, and remaining true to one’s self.

Founded in 1974, Mr Ailey’s mission was to establish an extended cultural community providing training, dance performances, and community programs for all.

Ailey II tours North America and overseas and returns every Spring for the annual New York season at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. Performances have included works by dance masters Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Donald Byrd, Ulysses Dove, Georg W. Faison, Lar Lubovitch, Judith Jamison and Artistic Director Robert Battle and choreographers Sidra Bell, Thang Dao, Carlos dos Santos, and Christopher L Huggins.

Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters (1974-2012) the company became one of the most popular dance companies in the country. In addition to performances, community outreach includes: master classes, lectures and demonstrations, and mini performances.

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Ailey II at The Ailey Citigroup Theater

March 30, 2016 – April 10, 2016

Ailey II’s “indefatigable, virtuosic, and relentlessly sexy” dancers (Los Angeles Times) return to The Ailey Citigroup Theater next week with two programs of premieres and returning audience favorites. Ailey II’s Samantha Barriento was recently featured on the cover of Queens Latino, and first-year dancer Lloyd A. Boyd III’s inspiring story of dancing with scoliosis was featured on BlackDoctor.org. During a 14-performance engagement held over two weeks, Ailey II’s “off-the-charts energy” (The New Yorker) will be amplified in diverse repertory by emerging and established choreographers, including:

• Choreographer and Ailey School alumnus Jean Emile’s In & Out, a poignant work for eight dancers that gives an unflinchingly honest view of the ups and downs of contemporary life. Drawing on a mix of dance techniques, Emile brings a fresh approach, which is amplified by a varied score that includes music by Alva Noto, Alberto Iglesias, and Jun Miyake.
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Jamar Roberts’ Ailey II choreographic debut, Gêmeos (Portuguese for twins). Loosely based on the relationship of Roberts and his brother growing up as children in Miami – one a dancer, the other an athlete – Roberts illustrates the dynamic between contrasting personalities and how they evolve from hostility to harmony. Using music with heavy percussion, brassy horns, groovy bass guitar, and the commanding singing style of Afrobeat star Fela Kuti, Roberts perfectly captures the energy of youth in Gêmeos.
• Ray Mercer’s Something Tangible, inspired by everyday emotions that awaken and bring color to the human spirit. Choreographer Ray Mercer leads the ensemble cast into a series of vignettes that reflect sensations of love, passion, fear, and self-doubt. The work features a wide range of musical styles that include artists Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, Geoff Bennett, and an original score by Bongi Duma.
• I Am The Road, by hip-hop choreographer Kyle “JustSole,” Clark, a pulsating ensemble work and generous glimpse into his life as a dancer. Capturing the struggles and triumphs of a young ambitious artist finding his place in the world, Clark presents his personal journal in dance form. House dance music by Vikter Duplaix, Jeff Samuel, Nuyorican Soul, and Markus Enochson illuminate Clark’s depictions of taking risks, falling in love, and remaining true to one’s self.

Tickets:

Order online at http://www.alvinailey.org/ailey-ii-nyc, by phone through OvationTix (866) 811-4111, or purchase in person at The Joan Weill Center for Dance, 405 W 55^th Street, New York, NY. The Box Office is open now through Mar 26, 1pm – 7pm; Mar 28 – Apr 10, Mon-Thurs 1pm – 7pm, Fri & Sat 1pm – 8pm. Tickets for groups of 10 or more people can be purchased through Group Sales at (212) 405-9082, [email protected]. Online ticket sales close 2 hours before curtain for that day’s performance. On performance days, the box office is open through curtain time for ticket buyers to the current performance. 

The Ailey Citigroup Theater

The Joan Weill Center for Dance

405 W 55^th Street (at 9^th Avenue)

New York, NY 10019

(212) 405-9000

www.alvinailey.org