Alvin Ailey Launches Holiday Season with Gala Featuring Quincy Jones, Gabrielle Union and More Tonight

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will kick off a five-week holiday season tonight, December 4thwith a star-studded gala benefit performance at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. 27-time Grammy award-winning music icon Quincy Jones and actress Gabrielle Union will serve as the evening's Honorary Chairs.

The evening begins with the Company premiere of Chroma, Wayne McGregor's ballet filled with layered, beautiful dancing and astonishing lifts. The Ailey company premiere, made possible with generous support from New York City Center, marks the first time a work by this multi award-winning British choreographer will appear in the Ailey repertory. Following the inspiring finale of Revelations, performed with live music, prominent figures in the worlds of entertainment, business, philanthropy and politics will join Artistic Director Robert Battle and dancers for a dinner-dance in the Hilton New York Grand Ballroom.

The event's co-chairs are Simin Allison & in memory, Herb Allison, Kathryn & Kenneth Chenault, Daria L. Foster & Erich J. Wallach, Agnes & Gerald Hassell, Debra L. Lee, and Joan & Sandy Weill. Call 212-405-9031 for tickets to thebenefit supporting the creation of new works and Ailey's extensive educational programs, including scholarships for the performing artists of the future.

In addition to the one-night-only opening gala benefit, Ailey enthusiasts are encouraged to ring in 2014 with an exceptionalNew Year's Eve performance featuring Revelations danced by beloved Ailey stars of the past and present, includingLinda Denise Fisher-Harrell, Renee Robinson, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Dudley Williams and Donna Wood Sanders.

Along with a variety of premieres, Ailey's 2013 - 2014 season will include a number of special programs throughout the five-week run. On Tuesday, December 17th the Company will celebrate renowned Guest Artist Matthew Rushing, who has been inspiring Ailey audiences for over two decade and is acclaimed as one of the great male concert dancer artists.

"All New" programs (Dec 20, 22 eve, 26, 28 eve, and Jan 2) feature premieres of Ronald K. Brown's Four Corners, Aszure Barton's LIFT, the Bessie Award-winning work D-Man in the Waters (Part I) by Bill T. Jones, and the groundbreakingChroma.

In a program aptly titled Ailey/Ellington (playing Dec 13, 15 mat, 18, 21 mat), ballets showcasing the marriage of Ailey's choreography and Ellington's music will be presented, including Night Creature, Pas de Duke, and The River.

The Ailey Classics program (Dec 14 mat, 24, 29 mat, Jan 4 mat) is a vibrant anthology of highlights from Mr. Ailey's prolific 30-year career-including such audience favorites as Cry, A Song for You, and For 'Bird'-With Love - and the beloved classic Revelations. Alvin Ailey's iconic Memoria will include performances by talented young students from The Ailey School and his signature American masterpiece Revelations will be performed with live music on December 4, 6, and 7 mat & eve.

The January 5th finale performance marks the close of the 25th season since the passing of the Company's legendary founder and will celebrate what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday with a season highlights program andRevelations in its entirety.

Tickets starting at $25 are now on sale for all season performances from December 4th through January 5th.Visit www.alvinailey.org, www.citycenter.org, call CityTix (212-581-1212), or the New York City Center box office.