Since its formation in 1958, New York's Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has played a pivotal role in pushing and transforming the boundaries of modern dance, particularly in the United States. But as a child Yannick Lebrun of French Guiana didn't know that history.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, past and future, irradiated the stage of Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall on Tuesday evening when the company launched its annual Cal Performances residency, a relationship that stretches back over four decades and give no sign of ending, despite a change in artistic leadership next season.
On its final tour with artistic director Judith Jamison, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed its signature piece, "Revelations," as well as strong new work at the 5th Avenue Theatre.
During a performance of the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, principal dancer Renee Robinson wants the audience to feel "this is the only place in the world I want to be."
Clifton Brown shares little in common with Alvin Ailey, the late legendary American dancer whose namesake company he now works for. Yes, both are African-Americans. Both are dancers of supreme athliticism. But beyond that, their backgrounds couldn't be more different.
The air was filled with anticipation last Saturday afternoon as the near-capacity audience filed into the Academy of Music for the first of three weekend performances by the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Seeming effortless, the stand-out newcomer of New York's Alvin Ailey Dance troupe transitions from one flow of motion to the next, as if transforming suddenly into an insect, a machine, a bird taking lfight, a shaman leading an ancient tribal mating dance, or a spaceman attempting communication in some ritualistic nonverbal language of the future.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Atlanta tonight. The Company is celebrating "Revelations at 50"...Which some consider one of the most popular ballet of all time.
Watching Renee Robinson perform the "umbrella" solo in Alvin Ailey's Revelations is to truly experience Ailey's legacy. Her regality, energy, and joy are reminiscent of a young Judith Jamison.
At the Ailey Citigroup Theater last November, Dance Magazine honored four dance icoms for their enormous gifts to the community: Deborah Jowitt, Pilobolus, Irina Kolpakova, and Matthew Rushing.