Imagine challenging a young dancer to hold the stage, alone, for 11 minutes. Sylvia Waters, the founding artistic director of Ailey II, is fearless pushing her charges - which is one reason why this company is so exciting.
The best thing about Kyle Abraham's "The Corner" is that it lets the up-and-coming dancers at Ailey II be themselves - and a little bit more. These dancers are vying to join the main Ailey Cmpany, and Abraham, a young choreographer who fuses hip-hop and postmodern sensibilities, helps them look their best.
Ailey II has evolved into a formidable force in the modern dance community. The company is presently experiencing unparallel success having recently completed a 49-city tour spanning both North America and Europe.
Sylvia Waters is the Artistic Director for Ailey II, the junior company of the renown Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which she has led since its inception in 1974. Waters was hand-picked by Alvin Ailey to lead the new venture and under her direction Ailey II has grown into a powerful company in its own right.
Our tour concluded with wonderful performances in Truro, Belfast, and Salford, each city broadening my view of the UK’s landscapes, fashion, and people. Truro was interesting, almost like a maze with all of the curving streets and alleyway shops. Belfast was an adventure, especially because we stayed near a lot of historical sights.
Hello everyone. Our UK tour has ended and we’ve made it back to New York City safe and sound. The last leg of the tour included Truro, Belfast, and Salford. Our visits to Truro and Belfast were quick ones, so I didn’t really get the chance to indulge myself in getting acquainted with the cities, but I enjoyed what I could.
Another beautiful city overlooking the sea! We stayed at the Royal Bath Hotel, which is grand enough to make you feel like royalty. A lot of our time off was spent in the main bar/reception area since that’s where the best internet connection was.
Hello again. The next destination on our itinerary is Bournemouth, England. Like Brighton, Bournemouth has a gorgeous beach that overlooks the English Channel. I found time to take a long stroll on the beach to reflect on life.
Brighton was quite a city. There was so much history around every corner. I had a chance to explore a lot of sights on our day off, including the Brighton Pier, the Sea Life Aquarium, the West Pier, and the Royal Pavilion.
Hello everyone! Brighton, if I left your city with anything, it was definitely a smile on my face. The first thing we noticed about this spunky town upon our arrival is its beautiful beach.