Alvin Ailey Season Continues With Two World Premieres, Live Music, And More

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2024-25 season celebrating ‘Legacy in Motion' and the life of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison moves forward with inspiring performances of acclaimed works and new pieces from a variety of choreographers for whom Alvin Ailey and Ms. Jamison paved the way.

On Thursday, December 12 at 7:30pm Many Angels, Lar Lubovitch's first world premiere for the Company, makes its debut featuring his lush choreography and musicality set to Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5. A choreographer for 60 years, Lubovitch has frequently been asked: "Why do you make dances?” For Lubovitch, “Something may exist in the world simply for the sake of itself. For example, a dance.” Many Angels is inspired by a question posed by 13th century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?,” illustrating that some questions have no logical response but are understood as a question of faith. It is not really about angels. (Well, maybe a little). [There are 7 more chances to see Many Angels this season: Dec. 14 eve, Dec. 15 eve, Dec. 17 eve, Dec. 21 eve, Dec. 22 mat, Jan. 1 eve, Jan. 5 mat].

Thursday's program also includes the season's first performances of returning favorites Memoria— Alvin Ailey's moving tribute created in remembrance of his dear friend and colleague Joyce Trisler; and Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish's dreamlike duet Me, Myself and You. The evening ends with Ailey's signature masterpiece Revelations.

On Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm former Ailey dancer Hope Boykin returns to explore personal freedoms for the world premiere of Finding Free – her collaboration with pianist Matthew Whitaker who has composed an original score for this piece. This insightful work uses Boykin's movement-language and Whitaker's jazz and gospel influenced music to examine the challenges and restrictions throughout life's peaks and valleys that propel the journey forward. Matthew Whitaker will perform live onstage on December 13 at 7:30pm and December 14 at 7:30pm. [There are 7 more chances to see Finding Free this season: Dec 14 mat, Dec. 15 eve, Dec. 17 eve, Dec. 26 eve, Dec. 28 mat, Jan. 3 eve, Jan. 5 eve].

Friday's program also includes Jamar Roberts' Ode – a meditation on the beauty and fragility of life in a time of growing gun violence; and concludes with Ailey's must-see Revelations.

Ailey's amazing artists continue to celebrate Judith Jamison throughout the week with moving works that embody her grace and unparalleled force as a dancer.  The Wednesday, December 11 7:30pm program features Ronald K. Brown's Dancing Spirit – a moving tribute to Ms. Jamison's profound influence set to music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, and War.  Saturday and Sunday matinee performances include Alvin Ailey's Cry – the iconic role originated by Ms. Jamison which catapulted her to international stardom – as part of an ‘All Ailey' Program presenting four works by our beloved founder including the moving tribute Memoria, tour-de-force male solo A Song for You excerpted from Love Songs, and the timeless Revelations.

This week kicks off on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30pm with encore performances of Jamar Roberts' world premiere Al-Andalus Blues and Ronald K. Brown's rapturous Grace.

In addition to enjoying live performances, Ailey fans across the globe are invited to join in the dance during Ailey Extension's Legacy Workshop series, encouraging all to learn to move like an Ailey dancer with help from former Company members. The series continues Saturday, December 14 at 3:30pm with AILEY Classics Workshop featuring excerpts of Alvin Ailey's Memoria taught by Sarita Allen.

For information on how to experience the magic of AILEY, please visit ailey.org.