The art of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is reaching new heights atop the iconic Woolworth Building in a breathtaking film that is a love letter to New York City as we rise, renew, and recover together, still dancing.
Ailey has joined the newly transformed Woolworth Tower Residences to celebrate New York’s resilience in an exciting reimagining of Pas de Duke, by Alvin Ailey, which will premiere during the free virtual holiday season Ailey Forward, from December 2 to 31.
Don’t miss the premiere on December 5 of this remarkable update of Pas de Duke, created for dance legends Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov, as part of an Ailey & Ellington program honoring the genius of American composer Duke Ellington.
A visually stunning venue for the celebration of two great American art forms – modern dance and jazz music – the Woolworth Building is an architectural gem that was officially inaugurated on April 24, 1913, when President Woodrow Wilson flipped a switch at the White House to light up what was then the tallest structure in the world.
Ailey’s virtual engagement will continue a cherished tradition of uplifting and uniting audiences around the globe from December 2 to 31, featuring world premieres of Testament, a tribute to Revelations by Alvin Ailey, which follows a community of people transforming pain into power and lament into hope, by Matthew Rushing, Associate Artistic Director, in partnership with company member and Assistant Rehearsal Director Clifton Brown and former company member Yusha-Marie Sorzano, and A Jam Session for Troubling Times, by Jamar Roberts, marking the centenary of jazz revolutionary Charlie “Bird” Parker.
A variety of other unique offerings will span the holiday period, including Family Programs for Revelations and Ailey & Ellington; a celebration of acclaimed dancers Glenn Allen Sims and Linda Celeste Sims with a farewell performance; and Artistic Director Robert Battle moderating a series of BattleTalk conversations with Ailey artists and special guests such as Wynton Marsalis, Toshi Reagon, Bryan Stevenson, and Rev. Dr. Eboni Marshall Turman. All events will be free on the website or on YouTube and Facebook, no registration required: www.alvinailey.org/performances-tickets/virtual-winter-season
The season highlights include:
• A celebration of the 60th anniversary of Revelations by Alvin Ailey, including “RevelationsReimagined” during our Virtual Opening Benefit on the evening of December 2.
• Family-friendly programs, including one focused on Revelations, where you will learn choreography from Alvin Ailey’s beloved masterpiece, and another where Robert Battle and Wynton Marsalis explore Mr. Ailey’s collaboration with Duke Ellington, along with highlights of Ailey’s ballets set to Ellington’s music.
• Conversations with Artistic Director Robert Battle and special guests.
• A farewell performance honoring long-time company members Glenn Allen Sims and Linda Celeste Sims, featuring a newly filmed excerpt from The Winter in Lisbon by Billy Wilson.
• The world premiere of A Jam Session for Troubling Times by Jamar Roberts, company member and Resident Choreographer. Set to the music of jazz saxophonist and composer Charlie “Bird” Parker, this work uses the energy, nuance, and virtuosity of ‘bebop’ sound as a vehicle to uplift our spirits and demonstrate that we are stronger than our circumstances.
• The world premiere of Testament by Matthew Rushing, Associate Artistic Director, Clifton Brown, company member and Assistant Rehearsal Director, and Yusha-Marie Sorzano, former company member. Weaving deep personal experiences and an original score by composer Damien Sneed, Testament is a tribute to Revelations by Alvin Ailey, which follows a community of people transforming pain into power and lament into hope.
• “Decades of Revelations,” featuring excerpts captured over the last 60 years on film and video. Many of these highlights have not been seen by the public in decades.
Photo by Andrew Eccles/Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
VIVIANE FAVER
Journalist
vfaver@gmail.com