Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Comes to NJPAC, 5/11-13

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in its inaugural season under the leadership of artistic director Robert Battle, makes its annual stop at NJPAC's Prudential Hall during from May 11-13. The company brings NJPAC premieres of Home, choreographed by Rennie Harris, Paul Taylor's Arden Court, Minus 16, choreographed by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin and of which NJPAC is a co-commissioner, and Takademe, an early work by Battle, in addition to repertory classics such as Alvin Ailey's inspiring Revelations.

The company performs Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at 8 pm, and Mother's Day, Sunday May 13, at 3 pm in NJPAC's Prudential Hall. Tickets range from $25 - $90 and may be purchased by visiting the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark, by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), or by visiting NJPAC's website at www.njpac.org.

Program:

May 11-12) Paul Taylor's classic Arden Court (1981) marks the first time a work by this American modern dance master is performed by the renowned Ailey dancers.  Set on the company under the supervision of Mr. Taylor, Arden Court features a sumptuous baroque score by William Boyce and technically challenging choreography with striking duets, solos and a men's sextet that showcases the dancers' skill and musicality.

(May 13) Hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris created Home set to a soul-lifting score of gospel house music.  The work is inspired by stories submitted to the "Fight HIV Your Way" contest for people living with or affected by HIV, an initiative of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presented the New York premiere on a day of major significance, both World AIDS Day and the day Alvin Ailey passed away from the disease 22 years ago.

(May 11-12) Minus 16 (1999), by the renowned American-Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, features Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in a work unlike any other in the Ailey repertory as it challenges the dancers to improvise and invite audience members to join them onstage.  Using Naharin's acclaimed "Gaga" method, Minus 16 features a delightfully eclectic score ranging from Dean Martin to cha-cha, from techno-pop to traditional Israeli music. NJPAC is a co-commissioner of the work.

(May 13) Takademe (1999), one of Mr. Battle's first creations and a pivotal work in his career, is a deconstruction and abstraction of the tightly woven rhythms of Indian Kathak dance.  Containing humor, fast-paced movements and propulsive jumps, the work is set to Sheila Chandra's syncopated vocal score. 

 

(May 13) In homage to the artistry of Alvin Ailey, Ailey will feature a new staging of Streams (1970), Mr. Ailey's first full-length dance without a plot.  An exploration of the architecture of bodies in space, the landmark work contains stunning solos, duets and group passages that reflect the powerful score by Miloslav Kabelac.  

 

(May 11-13)  Mr. Ailey's beloved masterpiece Revelations, an American classic acclaimed as a must-see and recognized by a U.S. Senate resolution, will provide the inspiring finale for all performances.

About the Artist:
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company has performed for an estimated 23 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents -- as well as millions more through television broadcasts. In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution designated the Company as "a vital American cultural ambassador to the world," one that celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.

Tickets: $25-$90
Available at www.njpac.org, 1-888-466-5722 or at the box office at 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ