Life is about to change for Sylvia Waters. In June, the artistic director for the Ailey II Dance Company will retire from the company of young dancers she has led for nearly four decades.
Besides supplying its parent company with fresh blood, Ailey II, the training and outreach scion of the great Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is charged with taking Ailey repertory to audiences in smaller cities like Birmingham and Chattanooga.
Ailey II opened their two-night Bermuda Festival run with a delightful programme of brilliantly choreographed and tightly executed modern dance masterpieces. The young performers who comprised the cast exhibited abundant technical excellence and rich reserves of energy throughout the performance.
Sylvia Waters had no intention of leading a dance company but the legendary Alvin Ailey saw a passion in her that he would not allow the world to pass by. Some 35 years ago, the late American choreographer and activist invited Waters to launch Ailey II — the junior company to his school and it has since has grown into an international success story.
Ballet Tennessee of Chattanooga, NT, welcomes Ailey II to its hometown for one night only, presenting this group of vibrant young dancers at the Tivoli Theatre on Jan. 28.
In these glitzy numbers, you most certainly can. We asked the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company to take the most head-turning looks of the season out for a spin - and twist, dip and twirl.
Sylvia Waters, the former dancer who has led the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's second company, Ailey II, for nearly 40 years, will step down as artistic director in June 2012, the company will announce Thursday.
another changing of the guard is taking place at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Sylvia Waters, the longtime artistic director of Ailey II, will retire on June 30, the company plans to announce Thursday.
"Revelations" had its debut Jan. 31, 1960, at the 92nd St. Y, after which it became the signature choreographic piece for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the most performed work of contemporary modern dance in the world.
Yes, absolutely, there was a great deal of pomp and circumstance (ball gowns, black ties, a red carpet and celebrities), because after all, it was time for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater annual spring gala at the world famous Apollo Theater to celebrate and support dance education under the Ailey umbrella.