Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to Take the World by Storm This Year on the Screen, Stage and the Page

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater announces a groundbreaking year, led by Robert Battle in his fifth season as Artistic Director.

The Company is currently performing at Paris' Théâtre du Châtelet for Les Étés de la Danse International Dance Festival until August 1, and the grace and bravura of the Company will soon reach the hearts and minds of audiences in South Africa, and throughout the U.S. via the screen, the stage, and the page.

HISTORIC SOUTH AFRICA RESIDENCY SEPTEMBER 3 - 20

Recognized by U.S. Congressional Resolution as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," Ailey will make a milestone return to South Africa September 3 - 20, nearly two decades after historic residencies in post-apartheid South Africa in 1997 and 1998, following the lifting of the international cultural boycott. Performances in Johannesburg at Teatro at Montecasino and - for the first time - Cape Town at Opera House, Artscape will be complemented by extensive educational activities in area schools, communities, and townships. This will harken back to the impactful outreach implemented during the Company's early visits; stepping off the stage and into the community has always been a priority for Ailey. After its Johannesburg debut, Time magazine proclaimed that "the Ailey company's tour leaves South Africa dancing in the aisles," and this season is sure to be equally inspirational. This residency is made possible by lead sponsor Bloomberg Philanthropies with major support from the Ford Foundation and Bank of America, as well as assistance from travel and freight partners South African Airways and South African Airways Cargo.

NATIONAL FILM DEBUT - "LINCOLN CENTER AT THE MOVIES: GREAT AMERICAN DANCE" ON OCTOBER 22

On Thursday, October 22 at 7pm, audiences across the nation will be able to enjoy Ailey's big screen debut, as part of "Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance." The film will be presented by Fathom Events and Lincoln Center, and shown on approximately 400 screens across the country. Captured before a live audience during Ailey's recent Lincoln Center season, the film includes audience favorites Chroma by Wayne McGregor, Grace by Ronald K. Brown, Takademe by Robert Battle, and of course, Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations, a must-see for all. The film is directed for the screen by Matthew Diamond and features a rare look behind the scenes and exclusive interviews with the artists. Tickets are available at FathomEvents.com and at participating theater box offices.

ROBERT BATTLE'S INSPIRING CHILDREN'S BOOK MY STORY, MY DANCE RELEASED OCTOBER 27

On October 27, the children's book My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey will be released by Paula Wiseman Books, a division of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Based on Battle's life, it is the unique story of a young boy who, despite physical and other challenges, has a life filled with music, church, and movement - first martial arts, and then, after seeing Alvin Ailey's Revelations, dance. Husband-and-wife team James Ransome and Lesa Cline-Ransome created the vibrant illustrations and wrote the inspiring narrative. The book is for ages 5 - 10, and is a success story that is sure to inspire all.

LANDMARK SEASON AT NEW YORK CITY CENTER DECEMBER 2 - JANUARY 3

AND 20-CITY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR FEBRUARY 2 - MAY 8

Ailey closes 2015 with its 45th consecutive season at New York City Center from December 2, 2015 - January 3, 2016. The Company will present world premieres, new productions, and Ailey classics during this annual season that has become a joyous holiday tradition. Other highlights include an Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, December 2 at 7pm, the Saturday Family Matinee Series, and a special New Year's Eve Celebration on December 31 at 7pm. Programming will be announced soon, and tickets starting at $25 go on sale September 8.

The season continues in 2016 with a 20-city North American tour from February 2 - May 6 launched by a gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, February 2. Audiences from coast to coast will have the opportunity to see Ailey's extraordinary dancers live in world premieres, new productions, and Ailey classics.

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER 2015 - 16 SCHEDULE:

September 2015

Sep 3 - 20: South Africa Tour

Sep 3 - 13 Johannesburg Teatro at Montecasino

Sep 16 - 20 Cape Town Opera House, Artscape

October 2015

Oct 22: "Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance" nationwide screenings, 7pm local time

Oct 27: Release of My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey

December 2015

Dec 2 - Jan 3: New York City Center season

February - May 2016

Feb 2 - May 8: North American Tour

Feb 2 - 7 Washington, DC John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 10 - 14 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

Feb 16 Gainesville, FL Curtis M. Phillips, M.D. Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 18 - 21 Miami, FL Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Feb 23 - 24 Chapel Hill, NC Memorial Hall, University of North Carolina

Feb 26 - 28 Norfolk, VA Chrysler Hall

Mar 1 - 2 Minneapolis, MN Northrup Auditorium, University of Minnesota

Mar 4 - 6 Toronto, ON Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

Mar 9 - 13 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University

Mar 15 Louisville, KY Robert S. Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center

Mar 17 - 20 Boston, MA Wang Theater, Citi Performing Arts Center

Mar 29 - Apr 3 Berkeley, CA Zellerbach Hall, University of California at Berkeley

Apr 6 - 10 Costa Mesa, CA Segerstrom Hall Center for the Arts

Apr 12 - 13 Santa Barbara, CA The Arlington Theatre

Apr 15 - 17 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre

Apr 19 - 20 Las Vegas, NV Smith Center for the Performing Arts

Apr 23 - 24 Houston, TX Jones Hall, Houston Society for the Performing Arts

Apr 26 - 27 Baltimore, MD The Lyric Opera House

Apr 29 - May 1 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square

May 6 - 8 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that forever changed the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey, a recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honor, and guided by Judith Jamison beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle, whom Judith Jamison chose to succeed her on July 1, 2011. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African?American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year?end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami?Dade County in Miami, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate). The Company also appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the United States and the world during extensive annual tours. The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world, Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people of all ages, and The Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey's permanent home-the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world -named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.

Photo by Andrew Eccles.