Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center’s Principal Dance Company and America’s cultural ambassador to the world, returns to the New York City Center stage.
They return for its annual, five-week holiday engagement, December 4 – January 5, 2025, celebrating Legacy in Motion. Featuring the world premieres of Sacred Songs by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, Finding Free by Hope Boykin, Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch, and Al-Andalus Blues by Jamar Roberts, the season also includes the 25th anniversary staging of Ronald K. Brown’s rapturous blockbuster Grace and a new production of Elisa Monte’s mesmerizing Treading. Live music will be presented at select performances of Finding Free, Sacred Songs, and the soul-stirring Alvin Ailey masterpiece Revelations.
Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing said, “This season we celebrate the lineage and legacy of Mr. Ailey, highlighting his acclaimed works as well as new ballets by choreographers for whom he paved the way. As I look at the repertory for our season, I am reminded that dance is both a reflection of our past and a guide to our future. We are excited to welcome audiences this holiday season to be inspired by AILEY’s extraordinary artistry and rich story, as it continues to be written.”
“… Harlem’s Duke Ellington’s classic “Come Sunday,”
Performances kick off with a one-night-only Opening Night Gala honoring legendary dance educator Jody Gottfried Arnhold. The special program will showcase the 25th anniversary production of Ronald K. Brown’s spellbinding Grace with a special live music performance by Tony® and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Leslie Odom, Jr. Set to Harlem’s Duke Ellington’s classic “Come Sunday,” Peven Everett’s hit “Gabriel,” and the irresistible pulse of Fela Kuti’s Afro-Pop, Grace depicts individuals on a journey to the promised land, expanding from a single angel-like figure in white to the fireball intensity of 12 powerful dancers. Here, the secular and sacred meet in a tour-de-force connecting African and American dance. The evening will conclude with Mr. Ailey’s indelible Revelations, accompanied by a live choir.
Sacred Songs, the world premiere by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, features music used in the original 1960 premiere of Alvin Ailey’s seminal Revelations but later omitted when the piece was edited into the current version that has captivated audiences for decades. Drawing inspiration from the roots of Mr. Ailey’s most venerated and consummate creation, this stirring new work will resurrect and reimagine those spirituals—with the collaboration of musical director Du’Bois A’Keen—as an offering to our present need for lamentation, faith, and joy. Live music schedule to be announced.
Former Ailey dancer Jamar Roberts presents Al-Andalus Blues, with music from Roberta Flack and Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain setting the tone for a world premiere commissioned by New York City Center. The abstract ensemble piece journeys back in time to the golden age of Al-Andalus, evoking the northern African Moors who flourished in the south of present-day Spain prior to the Christian Reconquista.
Former Company member Hope Boykin returns to explore personal freedoms in the world premiere Finding Free, in collaboration with pianist Matthew Whitaker who is composing an original score. This insightful work uses Boykin’s movement-language and Whitaker’s jazz and gospel-influenced music to examine the challenges and restrictions throughout life’s peaks and valleys that propel the journey forward. Live music schedule to be announced with Matthew Whitaker performing onstage.
Many Angels, the first world premiere for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater by Lar Lubovitch, features the choreographer’s renowned lush choreography and musicality set to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. A choreographer for 60 years, Lubovitch has frequently been asked: “Why do you make dances?” For Lubovitch, “Something may exist in the world simply for the sake of itself. For example, a dance.” Many Angels is inspired by a question posed by 13th-century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?,” illustrating that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith. It is not really about angels. (Well, maybe a little).
In addition to Grace, another favorite returning to the Ailey stage is Elisa Monte’s Treading, a sculptural, mesmerizing duet featuring fluid, intricate movements that combine with Steve Reich’s evocative music to create an aura of mystery and sensuality.
The engagement also includes All New, All Ailey and Ailey Classic programs, as well as Family Matinee performances each Saturday at 2 pm, followed by a Q&A session with Ailey’s revered dancers. The season finale on January 5 is a special program celebrating Alvin Ailey on his birthday.
Detailed performance calendar to be announced at a later date.
Joining Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater this season are Leonardo Brito, Jesse Obremski, Kali Marie Oliver, and Dandara Veiga. All the new Company members have a strong Ailey background, as Ailey II alumni (Brito, Oliver), students from The Ailey School (Brito, Obremski, Oliver, Veiga), or as a graduate of The Ailey/Fordham BFA Program (Oliver). Jessica Amber Pinkett, a former member of Ailey II and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, also has returned to the Company.
AILEY welcomes Maria Bauman as this year’s Ailey Artist in Residence, in the second year of the program that invests in and partners with choreographers who reflect Alvin Ailey’s cultural inquiry, participatory values, and worldview rich with vast curiosity. As Artist in Residence, Ms. Bauman is collaborating with multiple aspects of the organization, in advance of next year’s residency by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
During the 2024-25 Season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will return to Paris, France for performances at Palais des Congrès de Paris, October 18–26. The Company’s extensive annual national tour will reach nearly 20 cities from January through May 2025.
In addition to Ailey’s New York City Center season, major fall programming includes Edges of Ailey—opening at the Whitney Museum (99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014) on September 25—the first large-scale museum exhibition to celebrate the life, creativity, influence, and enduring legacy of Alvin Ailey. Through a multimedia display on the museum’s fifth floor, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, film, rehearsal footage, and archival materials situate Mr. Ailey within a broad social, creative, and cultural context. These artworks and ephemera highlight the artists who influenced and collaborated with Mr. Ailey, the spaces and scenes he frequented, and the dynamic themes he explored within his dances. An ambitious series of live performances will showcase excerpts of Mr. Ailey’s works by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II along with workshops, classes, and panel discussions. Edges of Ailey brings together art, history, live performance, music, and new commissions by choreographers influenced by Mr. Ailey to capture the full range of his passions, curiosities, obsessions, and creative output.
Edges of Ailey is organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in collaboration with the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. The exhibition is curated by Adrienne Edwards, Engell Speyer, Family Senior Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Programs, with Joshua Lubin-Levy, Curatorial Research Associate, and CJ Salapare, Curatorial Assistant. Timed tickets for the in-gallery exhibition Edges of Ailey, on view September 25, 2024–February 9, 2025, are available for purchase at whitney.org/tickets. Performance tickets for Edges of Ailey, include same-day access to the exhibition and will be available on whitney.org starting in September. Theater space is limited.
The compelling story of the life, work, and legacy of Alvin Ailey is also the subject of Portrait of Ailey, a new eight-part documentary series created by Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters. Portrait of Ailey uses rare historical film and still images as well as contemporary footage to create a sweeping narrative of Mr. Ailey as a performer, choreographer, celebrity, teacher, social activist, arts advocate, and the creator of an enduring institution. Portrait of Ailey’s first four chapters (Alvin Ailey’s Texas Roots; Alvin Ailey’s California Inspirations; Alvin Ailey, The Choreographer; Alvin Ailey, Worldwide Expansion) are currently available, with additional episodes rolling out in September.
Tickets to Ailey’s New York City Center season start at $42 (fees included) and go on sale September 10 at noon at the New York City Center box office, through Customer Care at 212-581-1212, or at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org.
Ailey’s season announcement comes as five of NYC’s most celebrated dance companies—Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem—again join forces for Lincoln Center’s BAAND Together Dance Festival (July 30 – August 3, 2024).
Full Performance Schedule To Be Announced – Tickets On Sale September 10 At Noon
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
December 4, 2024 – January 5, 2025, at New York City Center
131 West 55th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, New York, NY
(212) 581-1212 / www.nycitycenter.org
Calendar Listing Information
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, returns to New York City Center December 4 – January 5, for an engagement that has become a joyous holiday tradition. Led by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, Ailey’s extraordinary dancers will move audiences with world premieres by Rushing, Hope Boykin, Lar Lubovitch, and Jamar Roberts along with new productions and a variety of repertory favorites, including the 25th anniversary production of Ronald K. Brown’s rapturous Grace and Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations. Tickets starting at $42 (fees included) go on sale September 10 at the New York City Center Box Office, through Customer Care at 212-581-1212, or online at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org. For further information, visit www.alvinailey.org.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the
New York State Legislature.
The Opening Night Gala Spirits Sponsor is Diageo North America.
The creation of Finding Free is made possible with generous support from Barbara Brandt.
The creation of Al-Andalus Blues is made possible with generous support from Elaine & Larry Rothenberg.
The creation of Al-Andalus Blues is supported by commissioning funds from New York City Center.
The original production of Grace was supported by Natasha Leibel Levine, M.D. & Harlan B. Levine, M.D., and Elizabeth Marsteller Gordon.
The creation of this work was also made possible, in part, by AT&T, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and The Harkness Foundation for Dance.
WORLD PREMIERES
Al-Andalus Blues
Choreography by Jamar Roberts
Journey back in time to the Golden Age of Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula as Jamar Roberts evokes the multi-ethnic Islamic civilization that flourished in the south of Spain until 1492. Music from Roberta Flack and Miles Davis’s Sketches of Spain sets the tone for this abstract ensemble piece.
Finding Free
Choreography by Hope Boykin
Hope Boykin’s collaboration with composer and pianist Matthew Whitaker examines the challenges and restrictions throughout life’s peaks and valleys that propel the journey forward. This insightful work uses. Boykin’s movement-language and Whitaker’s jazz- and gospel-influenced score to explore notions of personal freedoms.
Many Angels
Choreography by Lar Lubovitch
After 60 years as a choreographer, Lar Lubovitch has frequently been asked: “Why do you make dances?”. The 13th century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas posed several theoretical questions about the behavior of angels to which no real answers are possible or necessary. “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” illustrates that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith. Something may exist in the world simply for the sake of itself. For example, a dance. Many Angels is a dance to music by Gustav Mahler. it is not really about angels (well, maybe a little).
Sacred Songs
Choreography by Matthew Rushing
Featuring songs used in the original 1960 version of Alvin Ailey’s seminal Revelations but later omitted, this stirring work will resurrect and reimagine those spirituals as an offering to our present need for lamentation, faith, and joy.
NEW PRODUCTIONS
Grace (1999)
Choreography by Ronald K. Brown
This new production marks the 25th anniversary of Brown’s rapturous work fueled by Duke Ellington’s classic “Come Sunday,” Peven Everett’s hit “Gabriel,” and the irresistible pulse of Fela Kuti’s Afro-Pop. Here, the secular and sacred meet in a tour-de-force connecting African and American dance.
Treading (1981)
Choreography by Elisa Monte
The two dancers in this sculptural, mesmerizing duet come together in fluid, intricate movements that combine with Steve Reich’s meditative music to create an aura of mystery and sensuality.
SIGNATURE MASTERPIECE
Revelations (1960)
Choreography by Alvin Ailey Music: Traditional Spirituals
More than just a popular dance work, Revelations has become a cultural treasure, beloved by generations of fans and acclaimed as a must-see for all. Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece is a tribute to his heritage. Using African American spirituals, the work fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. Seeing Revelations for the first time or the hundredth can be a transcendent experience. Audiences cheer, sing along, and dance in their seats from the opening notes of the plaintive “I Been ’Buked” to the rousing “Wade in the Water” and the triumphant finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.”
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, the Company was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity. Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and for 21 years she brought the Company to unprecedented success.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year-end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA, and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate), and appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the world during extensive tours.
The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs (1992), which brings dance into the classrooms, communities, and lives of people of all ages; and Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey’s permanent home—the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world—named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. AILEY is partnering with the Whitney Museum of American Art to present Edges of Ailey (September 25, 2024–February 9, 2025), the first large-scale exhibition to celebrate the life, creativity, influence, and enduring legacy of Alvin Ailey. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.
Photo credit: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Ronald K. Brown’s Grace. Photo by Nir Arieli.
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