Review Roundup: Alvin Ailey's FOUR CORNERS

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents Ronald K. Brown's newest work, Four Corners. Set to the music of Carl Hancock Rux, Yacoub, and various other artists, the work brings to life the vision of four angels standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds. The Ailey dancers have become known as inspiring interpreters oF Brown's unique dance storytelling and the opening night world premiere cast will include Linda Celeste Sims, Belen Pereyra, Glenn Allen Sims, Demetia Hopkins, Hope Boykin, Fana Tesfagiorgis, Jacqueline Green, Kirven James Boyd, Daniel Harder, and Michael Francis McBride.

Ailey's historic return to Lincoln Center after 13 years is the culmination of Artistic Director Robert Battle's second season. Though it is the first visit under his leadership, the Company made special appearances at Lincoln Center in 1976, 1996 and 2000 at the then New York State Theater, as well as in 1984 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Gia Kourlas, New York Times: As the razor-sharp Matthew Rushing, in purple, backs onto the stage, a hazy side spotlight frames his profile; his movement is slow, even tentative. Yet in spurts his arms move briskly, sending his body into a series of spasms. After he raises his face to a corner of the stage and holds that pose, other dancers enter from the same side of the stage and make their way into Mr. Brown's succinct choreographic pulse. Movement stops sharply and picks up again in the hips before rippling out through the body.

Robert Johnson, Star-Ledger: The quality of the movement is as important as the architecture. When the soundtrack switches to the gentle strings of "Da Na Ma" (a song in tribute to motherhood), the men's dancing grows gentler, too. Now they step softly, and Rushing pats the air with affecting delicacy.

Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press: Standouts in the cast were two Ailey veterans: the deeply expressive Matthew Rushing, who began the piece alone, his arms undulating with striking force, and Linda Celeste Sims, in an African head wrap. Both dancers were clad in deep, vibrant purple. Nine dancers joined them, and the ensemble broke into oft-changing groupings.

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