Photo Flash: First Look at Alvin Ailey's Premiere of Robert Battle's AWAKENING

On Friday, December 4th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater unveiled Robert Battle's Awakening, his first world premiere since becoming Artistic Director. Grammy-award winning singer Lauryn Hill was in attendance for the debut of the powerful work in which a dozen Ailey dancers lead the audience on a cathartic journey of dissonance and harmony, chaos and resolution. There are seven more opportunities to see Awakening during Ailey's New York City Center holiday season: Dec 12 mat, 17, 19 eve, 22, 24, 26 eve, Jan 2 eve. Scroll down for a first look at the piece!

The 5-week engagement at New York City Center continues this week with new productions of Ailey classics Cry and Love Songs on Tuesday, December 8th. Cry is the solo choreographed by Mr. Ailey as a birthday present for his mother, and famously danced by Judith Jamison, who celebrates 50 years with Ailey this season. Love Songs is the tour-de-force male solo originally created for the late Dudley Williams, and often considered the male counterpart to Cry. Both works return to the Ailey stage on the first night of the special "All Ailey" program, which is comprised entirely of works choreographed by the Company's legendary founder (Dec 8, 13 mat, 16, 19 mat, 20 eve).

Wednesday, December 9th marks the world premiere of MacArthur "Genius" Kyle Abraham's Untitled America: First Movement, a trio set to Laura Mvula's "Father, Father." In the first installment of a three-part suite, Abraham uses his unique avant-garde aesthetic and powerhouse athleticism to explore the lasting impact of incarceration in the prison system on individuals and families across generations. The week also includes the Company premiere of Paul Taylor's sizzling, tango-inflected Piazzolla Caldera on Friday, December 11th.

Highlights later in the season include Ailey's incomparable dancers performing in a live music new production of Blues Suite, the work that launched the Company in 1958, "All New" programs featuring all of the season's premieres, "Ailey Visionaries" programs comprised of works by the Company's three Artistic Directors - Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, and Robert Battle - and a special New Year's Eve Celebration in honor of Judith Jamison's 50th Ailey anniversary.

After the New York City Center engagement concludes on January 3rd, Ailey will perform in 20 cities across North America beginning in February. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.

Photo Credit: Paul Kolnik

AAADT's Jamar Roberts in in Robert Battle's AWAKENING

AAADT in Robert Battle's AWAKENING

AAADT in Robert Battle's AWAKENING

AAADT in Robert Battle's AWAKENING

AAADT in Robert Battle's AWAKENING

AAADT in Robert Battle's AWAKENING