Alvin Ailey to Wrap Up 2014-15 Holiday Series at the City Center This Weekend

There are only 8 performances left in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's holiday season at New York City Center through January 4th. Audiences have just a few more chances to be inspired by Ailey's extraordinary dancers, including matinee and evening performances on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve begins with an "All New" program on Wednesday, December 31st at 2pm featuring season premieres and new productions highlighted by Matthew Rushing's timely ODETTA, a tribute to the legendary singer Odetta Holmes. Known as the "voice of the Civil Rights Movement," December 31st was also poignantly the day of her birth.

The New Year's Eve celebration on Wednesday, December 31st at 7:00pm closes with beloved Ailey stars from the past and present ringing in 2015 with a one-night-only rendition of Revelations. The special program is also highlighted by David Parsons' high-flying and unforgettable signature work Caught.

The final Family Matinee on Saturday, January 3rd at 2pm is the renowned "Ailey/Ellington" program, followed by a question and answer session with the dancers. The Special Season Finale on Sunday, January 4th at 7pm brings out highlights of this year's new works, along with Caught, and Revelations.

For more information on Ailey's season, running through January 4th, visit www.alvinailey.org.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

"ALL NEW" PROGRAMS- FINAL PERFORMANCE

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST AT 2PM

The final "All New" program features season premieres of Ulysses Dove's Bad Blood, Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain Pas de Deux, Hofesh Shechter's acclaimed Uprising, and Matthew Rushing's world-premiere ODETTA.

NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST AT 7PM

The New Year's Eve Celebration rings in 2015 with beloved Ailey stars of the past and present. Former company members Desmond Richardson, Dwana Smallwood, Andre Tyson and Sarita Allen will join Ailey's extraordinary dancers for an exceptional one night-only performance of the always inspiring Revelations. The special program also includes David Parson's signature work Caught.

AILEY/ELLINGTON PROGRAM- FINAL FAMILY MATINEE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3RD AT 2PM

Ailey/Ellington, ballets showcasing the marriage of Ailey's choreography and Ellington's music will be presented including Pas de Duke, Alvin Ailey's modern dance translation of a classical pas de deux, which was created in 1976 for two of the world's most renowned dancers, Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov; Night Creature a dance that captivates with Ailey's sensual nighttime rituals, propelling the movement into a fast-paced climatic catharsis to create prowling patterns and communal configurations; and The River, which combines classical ballet, modern dance, and jazz in sections suggesting tumbling rapids and slow currents on a voyage to the great sea, mirroring the journey of life.

SEASON FINALE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4TH AT 7PM

The special final performance brings the season to a close with highlights of the new works introduced to the Ailey repertory in the last year including excerpts of Jacqulyn Buglisi's Suspended Women, Hans van Manen's Polish Pieces, David Parson's Caught, and Asadat Dafora's groundbreaking 1932 solo Awassa Astrige/Ostrich.

Tickets starting at $25 are available for purchase at the New York City Center Box Office, through CityTix at (212) 581-1212, or online at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org. Discount tickets are available for Ailey Super Fans who purchase tickets for more than one performance, for students with an appropriate ID, and for groups of ten or more (discounts do not apply to $25 tickets). For group sales, call 212-405-9082 or e-mail groupsales@alvinailey.org. For further details on Ailey's New York City Center season, visit www.alvinailey.org.

Pictured: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's New Year's Eve Performance at New York City Center. Photo by Kwame Brathwaite.