BWW Reviews: AILEY Still Thrills 57 Years Later

In a word - an Ailey experience is nothing shy of transformational. If ever given the opportunity to take in an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance, a few things are definitely bound to happen. You will be forever changed. Your views and ideologies will be questioned. Your biases and prejudices will be challenged and you will most definitely leave the theatre wanting to experience it again and again and again.

Try if you might, but I'd venture to say you'll never find a professional dance company more grounded and rooted in truth and raw emotion. The steps never seem calculated or over-rehearsed. At times it feels like their improvising and creating steps as they go, yet each dancer and every movement a direct complement to one another. Ailey's interpretation of a dance has always been about the people. Not only the people receiving the dance, but the ones who are delivering the dance, as well. You can even see catharsis happen right there on the stage during the show.

AAADT has been lauded as the world's most notable dance company, traveling all across the globe spreading their messages of relatability, authenticity and pride - three key concepts that are universal. Mr. Ailey's original works drew from his own experiences and upbringing, but you quickly find yourself engulfed and totally immersed in the work as if it had been created just for you. That's what dance should be; it's alluring and provocative, yet obscure and uncomfortably awkward. Though AAADT's works are beautifully constructed, they are not perfect and precise or prettied up for the stage - they are intentionally flawed and unpredictable, yet whole and complete, as life should be.

Perhaps, one of the most impressive attributes to the company is its inclusion of guest choreographers and works. Even though each artist brings their own unique ideas and concepts, it is never jarring or dissonant to the overall flow of an Ailey show. Mr. Robert Battle, who now sits at the helm as Artistic Director for AAADT, has been cited by the New York Times for injecting new life into the company - and he does just that.

The diversity of the dancers in race, ethnicity, and body type is so encouraging in a time and place where views and matters of acceptance seem so rigid and isolating. The Ailey brand has always prided themselves on celebrating talent in whatever capacity it presents itself in. Ailey dancers range in size, shape and color, but the constant is their ability to convey the message accurately and organically. Ailey women have curves and hips and thighs, yet they are toned and muscular from training and conditioning. Stick-thin and waif-like is not a prerequisite for a great dancer, nor should it be. Ailey men are strong, display dynamic range and are unapologetically masculine. Quite often, male dancers are overshadowed by their female counterparts; at times used as accessories and not viable entities in the choreography - but not in the Ailey company. The men are viable. They have unique stories of their own to tell. Yes, they do support the female dancers, and vice versa, but they are equally as important and celebrated in the landscape of the show.

A perfect example of the Ailey mystique is a newer work to the repertory. Chistopher Wheeldon's After the Rain Pas de Deux, is gripping and uncomfortably intimate. As a spectator you feel like a voyeur peering into the peephole of a couple's bedroom. But, isn't that what a great ballet should be? It makes you squirm and blush, but not because of its abstract nature, it's due to its palatable movement choices and implicit storyline. The ebbs and flows displayed through the choreography imitate what a relationship is and does. The awkward lifts and freezes are thought-provoking and rich. The female character, danced by Akua Noni Parker, was feminine and flirty, yet strong and nurturing. She had a natural ability to adapt to the situation at hand. The male character, danced by Jamar Roberts, is a renaissance man, not afraid to be vulnerable and exposed, but very supportive and displayed much physical and emotional strength.

No Ailey Show is complete without Revelations, serving as the finale number each night and rightfully so. Easily, Mr. Ailey's most notable and popular work; Revelations takes you on a spiritual journey from baptism to temptation; self-discovery to salvation. Ornately adorned with parasails, church fans and first lady hats, all painted in colorful, vibrant hues and shrouded in blacks and reds when necessary. Mr. Battle has reinvisioned the piece, but it doesn't miss a beat - just as riveting and pure as the original work. Oprah Winfrey was quoted as saying "Every American owes it to him or herself to see the Ailey [company] perform Revelations."

57 years ago, it started with a single performance, now Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is recognized as an American cultural ambassador to the world, proving that the same honesty and truth told through Mr. Ailey's choreographic works still resonate with the people. Ailey stated that "dance comes from the people and should be given back to the people" and with Mr. Battle forging the way, we are blessed to still be able to experience such an international treasure.

Photo Credit: Paul Kolnik

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