Clifton Brown News

Dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater welcome fans and friends to join them in the intimate surroundings of The Ailey Citigroup Theater for Reveal, special self-produced performances on Saturday July 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 29 at 3:00 p.m. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Ailey Dancers' Resource Fund, which started in 1995 to assist current and former company members with grants for career transition, creative endeavors or emergency loans.

Dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater welcome fans and friends to join them in the intimate surroundings of The Ailey Citigroup Theater for Reveal, special self-produced performances on Saturday July 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 29 at 3:00 p.m. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Ailey Dancers' Resource Fund, which started in 1995 to assist current and former company members with grants for career transition, creative endeavors or emergency loans.

This summer, Ailey Extension is offering a variety of unique dance programs for young, aspiring dancers. With one or two-week performance intensives and weekly training classes taught by New York City's premiere choreographers and instructors, kids and teens can enjoy developing technique, enhancing musicality, and releasing creative expression. All classes take place at The Joan Weill Center for Dance - home of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School.

Elisa Monte Dance (EMD), the newest organization to call Harlem home, will return to City College's Aaron Davis Hall for two original evenings of collaborative works in celebration of their 37th season. Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher, who succeeded founder Elisa Monte in 2016, will present her newest work The Best-Self Project, a full-length premiere on March 16. Rea-Fisher has also curated a mixed-bill program on March 17 that will showcase a collection of new and restaged works featuring celebrated icons Tony Danza, Clifton Brown, Ayodele Casel, and more. 

The Washington Ballet (TWB) is proud to present Three World Premieres by choreographers Clifton Brown, Gemma Bond and Marcelo Gomes at the Harman Center, March 14-18, 2018. All three choreographers have had formidable dance careers with internationally recognized ballet companies. This triptych of exquisite new works by the emerging choreographers of our time reflects their own history and experiences as dancers. TWB reaffirms its commitment to advancing dance in the 21st century in this program of commissioned works that support both the evolution of ballet and the dancer.

Elisa Monte Dance (EMD), the newest organization to call Harlem home, will return to City College's Aaron Davis Hall for two original evenings of collaborative works in celebration of their 37th season. Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher, who succeeded founder Elisa Monte in 2016, will present her newest work The Best-Self Project, a full-length premiere on March 16. Rea-Fisher has also curated a mixed-bill program on March 17 that will showcase a collection of new and restaged works featuring celebrated icons Tony Danza, Clifton Brown, Ayodele Casel, and more. 

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater began its weeklong stay in D.C. on Tuesday night with a beautiful gala night performance. If you have the opportunity to see this fantastic company, especially its signature piece Revelations, I highly urge you to do so.

On Friday, December 8, longtime Ailey star Jamar Roberts made his choreographic debut on the company with Members Don't Get Weary. Set to music by legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, the blues-inspired premiere was attended by Tarell Alvin McCraney, playwright and co-writer of the Oscar-winning film Moonlight a high school classmate of Roberts at Miami's New World School of the Arts. The New York Times called the opening scene striking and the work as emotional as it was virtuosic.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's five-week holiday engagement at New York City Center continues this week with a new production of Tony Award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp's The Golden Sectionon Wednesday, December 6. The critically-acclaimed work pushes the limits of human physicality as Ailey dancers take on Tharp's daring, driving choreography with breathtaking leaps and finely-honed partnering. Applauded by The New York Times for his leading role in the work, Clifton Brown the virtuoso Ailey dancer who recently returned to the company rises to Ms. Tharp's challenges as if he's been released, and his absorption becomes transporting.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's five-week engagement (November 29- December 31) at New York City Center is a highlight of the city's holiday season.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater's stage tonight, November 29th, through December 31st, 2017.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater's stage from November 29th December 31st, 2017.

The Ailey Spirit Gala broke records last night as the centerpiece of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2017 Lincoln Center engagement, led by Artistic Director Robert Battle. With a record-breaking $1.4 million raised, the one-night-only benefit performance and party featured Honorary Chair Andre Holland, critically-acclaimed actor of the 2017 Oscar Best Picture Moonlight. The evening honored Ailey Board Vice Chairman Stephen Meringoff for his longtime support of Ailey, and his instrumental role in strengthening and sustaining AileyCamp. Gala Co-Chairs were Lynne & Anthony M. Carvette, Almaz & Marc S. Strachan, and Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach; and Vice Chairs were Michele & Timothy Barakett, Dr. N. Anthony & Robyn Coles, Jaishri & Vikas Kapoor, Ricki Lander, Leslie & Tom Maheras, and Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer. The funds raised support Ailey's extensive educational programs for young people, including AileyCamp and scholarships to The Ailey School.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2017 Lincoln Center engagement continues with six performances left to enjoy with loved ones through Sunday, June 18.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a five-day, seven-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater from June 14 - 18.

Artistic Director Robert Battle announces a variety of exciting happenings in connection with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center season at the David H. Koch Theater June 14 - 18. 

Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater has announced its August 2016 events. Scroll down for details!

The French make a game of finding the perfect word for a phrase. For choreographer Jessica Lang the word is never in doubt. She is a master builder of choreographic phrases. Attending June 14th's opening of her 5th Anniversary concert at the Joyce was a bit like watching the construction of bridge; you may not have known why a thing was being done but it was clear that it served a purpose. This is not to say that the craftsmanship was obvious, if anything it was immaculately rendered. While the charge could reasonably be made that her work lacks mystery, what stands out about Ms. Lang's choreography is how well formulated it is; every move and gesture has been considered in the name of efficiency.

A month ago while Jessica Lang was in Utah working with Ballet West, I rang her to interview her about her incredible year of ongoing success. Years ago I took class with Robert Battle and struck up a dance friendship with his company dancers including Jessica's husband Kanji Segawa. But I have never met Jessica herself. Of course she is the 'It Woman' of dance so I know a bit about her. With her embarrassment of accolades one would have to have their head buried in the sand not to. Besides the rapturous praise she has received for her work, she has also secured numerous commissions (American Ballet Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Japan at the New National Theatre Tokyo, Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet San Jose, Richmond Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ailey II, ABT II, Hubbard Street 2, and New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute, among many others), received many high profile awards (New York City Center Fellow for 2015, 2014 Bessie Award, 2013 Manchester Theatre Award, grants from Jerome Robbins Foundation, the NEA, the Choo San Goh Foundation, and a 2010 Joyce Theater Artist Residency supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation), is opening her own dance center in Long Island City, and is celebrating her company's 5th Anniversary Season at the Joyce. But how did she come to all of this?

Jessica Lang Dance, under the artistic direction of choreographer Jessica Lang, will celebrate its 5th Anniversary season with a week-long engagement at The Joyce Theater on June 14 – 19, 2016, featuring five pieces, including three New York premieres. There will be a post-performance Curtain Chat discussion with Lang and dancers from the company following the performance on June 15.