ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’S NEW YORK CITY CENTER HOLIDAY SEASON LAUNCHES ON NOVEMBER 30TH
“AN EVENING OF AILEY AND JAZZ” OPENING NIGHT GALA BENEFIT FEATURING ROBERT BATTLE’S TRIBUTE TO ELLA FITZGERALD ON THE CENTENNIAL OF HER BIRTH
OTHER WEEK 1 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE WALKING MAD COMPANY PREMIERE, LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES & MORE
NEW PHOTOS AND SIZZLE REEL NOW AVAILABLE!
Left to Right: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Photo by Andrew Eccles. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Yannick Lebrun. Photo by Andrew Eccles. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing John Inger’s Walking Mad. Photo by Paul Kolnik.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30: “AN EVENING OF AILEY AND JAZZ” OPENING NIGHT GALA BENEFIT
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off a five-week holiday season on November 30th with a star-studded gala benefit, including a performance at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. Songwriter, recording artist, and activist Solange Knowles is the evening’s Honorary Chair. Her third and most recent album, A Seat at the Table, debuted at number one on the Billboard chart in October.
Themed “An Evening of Ailey and Jazz,” the gala features a special one-night-only program celebrating the marriage of modern dance and jazz music. A highlight of the evening will be Artistic Director Robert Battle’s Ella, a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald will be performed for the centennial of her birth. Performance excerpts include John Butler’s Portrait of Billie, Talley Beatty’s The Road of the Phoebe Show, Billy Wilson’s The Winter in Lisbon (2016 new production), and Alvin Ailey’s For Bird – With Love and Pas de Duke. Culminating the night, Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations will be performed with live singers and musicians.
Following the performance, prominent figures in the worlds of entertainment, business, philanthropy and politics will join Artistic Director Robert Battle and dancers at the gala party for dinner and dancing. Expected guests include Tituss Burgess, Savion Glover, Ledisi, Damaris Lewis, Naturi Naughton, Keegan-Michael Key, Tamron Hall, and Robin Roberts. This year’s gala will honor Diageo, North America and benefits the creation of new works, scholarships to The Ailey School, and Ailey’s educational programs for young people.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2: WALKING MAD – COMPANY PREMIERE
Revered Swedish choreographer Johan Inger’s Walking Mad is his first work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Set to the driving sounds of Maurice Ravel’s much-loved Boléro as well as music by minimalist master Arvo Pärt, the rousing 28-minute work for 9 dancers grips audiences throughout, bringing waves of emotion – first laughter, then tears. Full of wit and laced with an unsettling edge of madness, the piece employs a long, movable wall that can also be viewed as a symbol of the barriers people construct in their relationships.
Performance Dates: Dec 2, 3 eve, 4 eve, 11 eve, 15, 21 eve, 23, 30 eve
OTHER WEEK 1 HIGHLIGHTS
YOUNG NEW YORK SPECIAL EVENTS
On Thursday, December 1st, the Ailey organization hosts Young New York Night featuring $25 tickets for every seat in the house for patrons between the ages of 21-30. The performance includes Italian choreographer Mauro Bigozetti’s 2016 premiere Deep, set to the soulful music of Ibeyi; Awakening, Robert Battle’s striking 2015 premiere; Judith Jamison’s emotional and sensual A Case of You duet, set to the Diana Krall version of Joni Mitchell’s song by the same name; and Alvin Ailey’s timeless Revelations.
After the Friday, December 2nd 8 p.m. performance, Ailey will host “The First Drink’s On Us” for ticket holders aged 21-30. Enjoy a free drink on Ailey while mingling with other 20-somethings at a free post-performance party in New York City Center’s upstairs lobby.
The program is a multi-year audience development project to inspire young New Yorkers, supported by The Wallace Foundation.
REVELATIONS WITH LIVE MUSIC
For one week only, Alvin Ailey’s beloved Revelations will be performed with a live, on-stage band and singers.
Performance Dates: Nov 30, Dec 2 eve, 3 mat and eve
FAMILY MATINEE SERIES
On Saturday afternoon, Bring the whole family to enjoy the performance and stay for a FREE Q & A with the acclaimed Ailey dancers in the theater after the performance.
Performance Dates: Dec 3 mat, 10 mat, 17 mat, 24 mat
CALENDAR LISTING INFORMATION
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, returns to the New York City Center stage for the 46th consecutive year November 30 – December 31, 2016. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Ailey’s extraordinary dancers will move audiences with premieres, new productions and repertory favorites in a season that has become a joyous holiday tradition. Tickets starting at $25 are available for purchase at the New York City Center Box Office, through CityTix® at (212) 581-1212 or online at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org. Discount tickets are available for Ailey Super Fans who purchase tickets for more than one performance, for students with an appropriate ID and for groups of 10 or more (discounts do not apply to $25 tickets). For group sales, call 212-405-9082 or e-mail [email protected]. For further information, visit www.alvinailey.org.
