Alvin Ailey News

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Youth America Grand Prix, known to all as YAGP, the international competition founded by former Bolshoi principals Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev offered a three-evening celebration at the Koch from April 9th to 11th 2014 that completely converted this former naysayer into a diehard fan. All of my complaints from 2012 and 2013 have been addressed.

The Ordway will present TU Dance in performance for one night only, May 10, 2014, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the celebrated St. Paul-based company founded by Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands. This special performance includes Hikari, an Ordway-commissioned world premiere by choreographer Uri Sands in collaboration with master wood block print artist Hiroki Morinoue.

Rosie's Theater Kids (RTKids) will present 'Passing It On: An Evening of Mentorship' to benefit Rosie's Theater Kids at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater on Monday April 28, 2014 at 7pm. This year's event will honor legendary director and choreographer and RTKids mentor, Pat Birch.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under the artistic direction of Glenn Edgerton, presents its Summer Series program June 5-8, 2014 featuring the 13th world premiere for the company by Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, with costumes by Branimira Ivanova, 'Jeff' Award-winning designer of numerous Hubbard Street premieres; and lighting by Michael Korsch, designer for both of Cerrudo's acclaimed works for Hubbard Street's main company in 2012: Little mortal jump and One Thousand Pieces.

World's largest dance network and international student ballet scholarship audition - YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX - will celebrate its 15th Anniversary with three spectacular performances at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater on April 9-11, 2014.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, under the artistic direction of Glenn Edgerton, presents its Summer Series program June 5-8, 2014 featuring the 13th world premiere for the company by Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, with costumes by Branimira Ivanova, "Jeff" Award-winning designer of numerous Hubbard Street premieres; and lighting by Michael Korsch, designer for both of Cerrudo's acclaimed works for Hubbard Street's main company in 2012: Little mortal jump and One Thousand Pieces.

Pittsburgh Dance Council, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, brings you Wayne McGregor | Random Dance on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at 8:00 p.m., at the Byham Theater. Award-winning, anatomy-defying British choreographer Wayne McGregor has crafted a stunning piece for the ten dancers from Wayne McGregor | Random Dance that will present the evening length work, FAR.

FirstWorks brings internationally recognized visual/theater artist and experimental filmmaker Janie Geiser to Providence April 6-12 for a week-long FirstWorks Arts Learning residency to include a series of workshops, artist talks and screenings designed to engage Providence-area K-12 and university students. As part of a FirstWorks co-commissioned project, Geiser and a cross-disciplinary group of students from Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will combine puppetry and video during a week-long developmental workshop for Geiser's new multidisciplinary work "Fugitive Time".

Alonzo King, the celebrated contemporary ballet company, is guided by its uniquely global artistic vision. Drawing on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, the company's works imbue classical ballet with new expressive potential. Alonzo King's visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity-of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. The program includes Concerto for Two Violiins, Writing Ground, and Rasa, set to an original score created and performed live by tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

Producers Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbricht have partnered with the American Cancer Society to present the fourth annual Dance Against Cancer on Monday, May 5, 2014 with cocktails at 6pm (VIP ticket only), followed by a performance at 7pm, and a post-show reception at the AXA Equitable Theater, 787 Seventh Avenue (between 51st and 52nd Streets), NYC. Tickets are $150 ($300 for VIP) and are available at www.dacny.org.

As the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, led by Executive Director Brett Batterson, celebrates its milestone 125th Anniversary, more exciting announcements are made for the 2014 - 15 Season beginning September 2014. Adding to the breadth of diverse International Dance, contemporary Brazilian dance company, Grupo Corpo makes their Chicago debut on the Auditorium's landmark stage. In addition to dance from around the world, the Auditorium will also celebrate the abundance of talent that Chicago offers with the 'Made in Chicago' Dance Series, now featuring eight diverse companies with the addition of 'Chicago Rhythm Fest.' More music will fill the theatre as well with the addition of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's 'CJP @ Ten' and Ron Hawking's 'His Way,' a celebration of Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday to the 'Made in Chicago' Music Series.

This celebrated contemporary ballet company is guided by its uniquely global artistic vision. Drawing on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, the company's works imbue classical ballet with new expressive potential. Alonzo King's visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity-of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. The program includes Concerto for Two Violiins, Writing Ground, and Rasa, set to an original score created and performed live by tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

As part of the second annual Live Ideas festival, James Baldwin, This Time!, New York Live Artspresents Baldwin Through Dance: Charles O. Anderson and Dianne McIntyre. The shared program features the world premiere of Time is Time created and performed by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Dianne McIntyre, and the New York City premiere of Charles O. Anderson's Restless Natives.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater May 1-4 Thursday | 7:30pm Friday | 8pm Saturday | 2pm & 8pm Sunday | 3pm Citi Wang Theatre: 270 Tremont St., Boston, MA Tickets: $35 and up Phone: 866-348-9738 MBTA: Green line to Boylston

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies,will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with four different programs for a two-week 15-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater June 11 - 22, 2014. Today, Artistic Director Robert Battle announced repertory for the season, highlighted by a world premiere from Robert Moses - a first-time collaboration with the Company - new productions of Hans van Manen's Polish Pieces and David Parsons' signature work Caught, along with the company premiere of Asadata Dafora's groundbreaking 1932 solo Awassa Astrige/Ostrich. Ailey's acclaimed dancers will perform in diverse repertory including encore performances of 2013-14 season premieres and new productions such as Wayne McGregor's Chroma and an "Ailey/Ellington" program, as well as favorites like Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations.

Originally from the Philippines, Miguel Braganza II, Walter Terry scholar in the dance performance and choreography program at Harvard University in the '80s, and assistant to Tony Award-winning director John Dexter in the original Broadway production of 'M. Butterfly' from 1988-1990, joined the cast of the U.S. and international productions (Germany, Canada, UK, and Portugal) of Cameron Mackintosh's megamusical 'Miss Saigon' for 14 years: a feat that made him feel so blessed, and has prompted him to donate his time, talents, and resources by teaching young and up-and-coming artists, build libraries, and promote arts programs both in New York and in the Philippines to this day.

Ailey II, the youthful and gifted second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, returns to its home, the Ailey Citigroup Theater, from today, April 2 - 13 for a highly anticipated 40th anniversary season - the second led by Artistic Director Troy Powell. For two weeks, audiences will experience 14 performances featuring two dynamic programs, which come on the heels of a successful North American tour to over 30 cities and an array of critically acclaimed performances in Germany and France. Tickets starting at $49 are on sale now.

Enemy Within, a film by director Preston Miller, featuring star performers Tyler Peck of New York City Ballet, Mathew Rushing of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Samantha Higgins of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and freestyle dancer Margues 'Nonstop' Scott will premier in New York at the second installment of New Dance Cinema on May 23. The film brings together the four unique artists to face a head on battle with insecurity and results in a beautifully shot and compelling tale of struggle and triumph.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performs a concert at Carnegie Hall that explores the musical traditions of Hungary featuring music by Hungarian composers that incorporated traditional folk tunes into their works. The program includes Kodaly's Hungarian Rondo and Bartok's Divertimento for String Orchestra. Violinist Christian Tetzlaff joins Orpheus for a performance of Joseph Joachim's rarely heard Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor 'in the Hungarian Style' on Stern Auditorium's Perelman Stage tonight, March 29 at 7 p.m.

During Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's visit to Segerstrom Center, there will be a special bus-in performance for 2,800 Southern Californian students from grades 3 - 12 today, March 28 at 10 a.m.