Members of the Company in Alvin Ailey’s For ‘Bird’ – With Love. Photo by Dario Calmese
World renowned ambassadors of Dance and Culture, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to its Chicago home – the landmark Auditorium Theatre at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive – for its 55th engagement here, with six dynamic performances, April 17-21, 2024.
Celebrating its 65th Anniversary season in 2023-24, the company will perform three distinct programs certain to appeal to both longtime Ailey fans and new audiences discovering this joyous company for the first time: AUDIENCE FAVORITES, ALL-NEW, and AILEY CLASSICS. Tickets, starting at $40, are now on sale at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | Auditorium Theatre.
In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of young Black modern dancers took the stage in New York City and forever changed the perception of American dance and culture. One of the country’s groundbreaking greats, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is recognized by US Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World”, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance in a universal celebration of the human spirit.
Led by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, the acclaimed Ailey dancers will showcase their passionate spirit and extraordinary technique in three specially themed programs. AUDIENCE FAVORITES features Kyle Abraham’s critically applauded Are You In Your Feelings? and a new production of Ronald K. Brown’s tribute to Judith Jamison’s profound influence Dancing Spirit, along with the Company’s traditional program closer, Alvin Ailey’s beloved must-see masterpiece Revelations.
ALL-NEW presents a pair of exciting new works commissioned especially for Ailey: Amy Hall Garner’s rousing, high spirited tribute to her grandfather, CENTURY; and Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s dreamlike duet reminiscence of romance, Me, Myself and You; in addition to updated productions of the audacious Following the Subtle Current Upstream by Alonzo King and the tour de force Solo by Hans van Manen. AILEY CLASSICS offers a newly curated two-act program sampling a variety of classic works by Alvin Ailey culminating with his signature Revelations.
“Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s annual engagement at the Auditorium Theatre is a recognized highlight of the Spring arts season, and we’re pleased to be able to announce the exceptional program lineup so far in advance to help the Company’s legion of Midwest fans plan their schedules,” said Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan. “We look forward to welcoming back the Company led by Matthew Rushing, with whom we’ve had the pleasure to work for much of his 30 years with Ailey, with a diverse program for Chicago audiences.”
“We’re excited to return to our Chicago home with Ailey’s 65th Anniversary season featuring new works by exciting choreographic voices, along with a special program of classics by our legendary founder Alvin Ailey,” said Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing. “I share the audience’s excitement in watching the Company’s extraordinary dancers, some of whom hail from the area, share their artistry on the Auditorium stage to carry on a cherished legacy of inspiration.”
2024 AUDITORIUM THEATRE PROGRAM
AUDIENCE FAVORITES (Program A)
- A new production of Ronald K. Brown’s Dancing Spirit (2009), set to music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, and War, which pays tribute to the women of Ailey by evoking the elegance, dignity, and generosity of Judith Jamison and borrowing the title of her autobiography.
- Are You in Your Feelings? (2022) In his third commission for the Ailey company, Kyle Abraham’s newest work is a celebration of Black culture, Black music, and the youthful spirit that perseveres in us all. Scored to a “mixtape” of soul, hip-hop, and R&B, it explores the connections among music, communication, and personal memory.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey’s Revelations. Photo by Paul Kolnik
- Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece, Revelations (1960) has been seen by more people than any other modern dance work and has moved audiences around the world through its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope, and transcendence. Springing from Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the south and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African American and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition.
AUDIENCE FAVORITES will be performed Opening Night, Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30pm, and Saturday evening, April 20, at 7:30pm.
ALL-NEW (Program B)
- Amy Hall Garner launches her residency with her first work for the Company entitled CENTURY (2023), a deeply personal piece inspired by her grandfather on the eve of his 100th birthday. Taking a cue from his spirited essence and set to the music of Ray Charles, Count Basie, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and more, CENTURY is a celebration of life, resilience, and joy.
- Former Ailey dancer Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish premieres a new duet titled Me, Myself and You (2023). A dreamlike dance about reminiscence, it is set to Damien Sneed and Brandie Sutton’s rendition of “In A Sentimental Mood,” conjuring the memories of love and passion for a woman who is asking herself if she should let go or forge ahead.
- Described by choreographer Alonzo King as “a piece about how to return to joy,” a new production of Following the Subtle Current Upstream (2000) mirrors life’s boisterous waves and reminds us that everything in nature seeks to return to its source. King’s movement — abstract but steeped in meaning — sets the dancers in constant flow to an eclectic score by Zakir Hussain, Miguel Frasconi, and Miriam Makeba.
- A new production of Hans van Manen’s Solo (1997), a tour de force among three dancers that challenges the Ailey men’s daring agility and grace. An explosive display of virtuosity and wit launches the performers into an exhilarating whirlwind of movement and musicality.
ALL-NEW will be performed Friday, April 19, at 7:30pm, and Saturday, April 20, at 1pm.
AILEY CLASSICS (Program C)
This special two-act Ailey Classics program is comprised of excerpts from some of Alvin Ailey’s beloved 20th century ballets including Memoria (1979), Night Creature (1974), Pas de Duke (1976), Masekela Langage (1969), Opus McShann (1988), Love Songs (1972), Reflections in D (1962) and For ‘Bird’ – With Love (1985). In Act 1 Memoria honors the life of a cherished friend and Night Creature fuses Ailey’s buoyant choreography with Duke Ellington’s sparkling music.
Act II features the strong yet serene solo Reflections in D along with highlights from the spirited duet Pas de Duke, the commanding choreography in Masekela Langage, the comical meandering of Opus McShann, the lyrical solo from Love Songs, and the magical Charlie Parker tribute For ‘Bird’ – with Love. Ailey’s American signature masterpiece, Revelations, concludes the program.
AILEY CLASSICS will be performed Thursday, April 18, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, April 21 at 3pm.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKETS
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at the Auditorium Theatre: Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30pm; Thursday and Friday, April 18-19 at 7:30pm; Saturday, April 20 at 1pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, April 21 at 3pm. Tickets start at $40 and are now available at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling 312.341.2300, or at the Box Office at 50 E Ida B Wells Drive in Chicago, IL. Click here for phone and in-person hours.
Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more people are available. The Auditorium Theatre offers $20 student rush tickets to full-time college students and a Student Savings Club for both college and high school students. Click here for more information on discounted tickets.
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