Alvin Ailey News

Parsons Dance, one of the nation's most popular and acclaimed modern dance companies, will honor three legends of the dance world -- Paul Taylor, David Parsons and Robert Battle -- at its gala tonight, January 14 at The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street). The event, a celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary Season, will include a performance at The Joyce, followed by dinner, dancing and a live auction at the nearby Chelsea home of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, 547 West 26th Street (transportation will be provided). For tickets and additional information, please visit http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=6830 or call (212) 869-9275.

Parsons Dance, one of the nation's most popular and acclaimed modern dance companies, will honor three legends of the dance world -- Paul Taylor, David Parsons and Robert Battle -- at its gala on Tuesday, January 14 at The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street). The event, a celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary Season, will include a performance at The Joyce, followed by dinner, dancing and a live auction at the nearby Chelsea home of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, 547 West 26th Street (transportation will be provided). For tickets and additional information, please visit http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=6830 or call (212) 869-9275.

Green Space is pleased to offer a diverse roster of new/ emerging artists in February. Fertile Ground will present new work by various artists and Take Root will present an evening of work by Teresa Fellion and Teddy Tedholm.

This spring 2014 season, American Repertory Ballet will present the premiere of Douglas Martin's Firebird, set to Stravinsky's dramatic score. At 'Behind the Music: Stravinsky's Firebird', an On Pointe Enrichment Series event, ARB Artistic Director Douglas Martin and guest lecturer Maestro Michael Pratt will discuss this ballet's music and history. 'Behind the Music' will be held today, January 10, 2014 at 5:15pm at Princeton Ballet School (301 North Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's Supermarket).

Lee Nolting, artistic director of COCAdance, has mentored dozens of promising young students during her 35 years at COCA, with many going on to earn top spots at world-renowned dance companies. Among her former students is Antonio Douthit-Boyd, 32, a principal dancer with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which has performed for more than 23 million people worldwide. When Nolting receives an Excellence in the Arts award at the 2014 St. Louis Arts Awards on January 20, Douthit-Boyd will perform in a swirling ballet duet in tribute to her. His dance partner will be Alicia Graf Mack, a nationally recognized dance professional and Alvin Ailey principal dancer who at one time taught alongside Nolting at COCA.

LeeSaar The Company will make its Joyce debut with three performances February 8 - 9. This Joyce Theater Foundation presentation of the 13-year old Brooklyn-based company marks the New York premiere of Grass and Jackals by founders Lee Sher and Saar Harari. Tickets are $10-$25, and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at www.Joyce.org, or by calling 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street, in Chelsea.

Robert Creighton, David Garrison, Harriet Harris, Judy Kaye, Lewis J. Stadlen, Lee Wilkof, Tony Yazbeck and Rachel York will join Christian Borle in Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh¹s Little Me, the opening production of New York City Center¹s 2014 Encores! season, running for seven performances, February 5 - 9. The show will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Joshua Bergasse.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University announced today the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge on February 4, and will run through March 16. It is available for press viewing from Wednesday, February 12, at 7:30pm.

Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Vermont's only statewide symphony orchestra, announced this week that Robert De Cormier is retiring as founding director and conductor of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus. De Cormier has held this position for twenty years.

Following the record-breaking attendance of Festival 2013, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival announces the 2014 Festival schedule. Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, home to America's longest-running dance festival, and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Noted dance writer Jennifer Dunning has called the Pillow "the dance center of the nation, possibly the world."

In conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's current holiday season at New York City Center, the celebration of the new year, and The January 5th season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday; The Ailey Extension will offer special programs now through January. Starting tonight programs will include Revelations workshops taught by leading dancers from the Company's 55 year history, and the all new 'Get Fit in '14' challenge beginning today, January 2nd.

One Life: Martin Luther King Jr. Under the inspired leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), nonviolent protest became the defining feature of the modern civil rights movement in America. Explore this one-room exhibition dedicated to the life and accomplishments of Dr. King.

In conjunction with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's current holiday season at New York City Center, the celebration of the new year, and The January 5th season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 83rd birthday; The Ailey Extension will offer special programs now through January. Starting tonight programs will include Revelationsworkshops taught by leading dancers from the Company's 55 year history, and the all new 'Get Fit in '14' challenge beginning on January 2nd.

This spring 2014 season, American Repertory Ballet will present the premiere of Douglas Martin's Firebird, set to Stravinsky's dramatic score. At "Behind the Music: Stravinsky's Firebird", an On Pointe Enrichment Series event, ARB Artistic Director Douglas Martin and guest lecturer Maestro Michael Pratt will discuss this ballet's music and history. "Behind the Music" will be held on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 5:15pm at Princeton Ballet School (301 North Harrison Street, above McCaffrey's Supermarket).

Jacob's Pillow Dance, home to the longest-running international dance festival in the U.S., is accepting applications for its 2014 Summer Intern Program. 33 interns from around the world are selected, following a competitive application review and interview process, to help produce the field's most comprehensive and engaging festival of dance.

American Repertory Ballet's 50th Annual Nutcracker production will come to State Theatre today, December 21 at 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

Lawrence Leritz will chat about his career and upcoming theatre projects for 2014 at 10;48 am on Spotlite Radio, December 23, 2013. Leritz recently choreographed 'A Broadway Holiday Concert 2013' for Huntington Disease NY, choreographing songs by Cole Porter and original cast members from Broadway's Grease. Audiences will recognize Lawrence Leritz from his recent film roles in The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon and in Julie Taymor's musical Across The Universe. Lawrence made his film debut in 'Easy Money' opposite Rodney Dangerfield. Television includes 2013 Emmy Winner, Night Of Too Many Stars, performing in 'Call Me Maybe' with Carly Rae Jepsen and Harvey Keitel on Comedy Central. Other appearances include the Saturday Night Live, All My Children and the Michael J Fox Show. Lawrence is also the star of the best selling exercise DVD, Total Stretch!

Company XIV and The Saint At Large are announcing a one week extension for the critically acclaimed New York Premiere of Nutcracker Rouge, conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick, with a script adapted and written by Jeff Takacs. Nutcracker Rouge's Off-Broadway run began on November 30, 2013 and now extends with six added performances through January 12, 2014 at the Minetta Lane Theatre, located at 18 Minetta Lane between MacDougal Street and 6th Avenue in New York City. The show officially opened on December 4.

So you've decided you want to see Alvin Ailey this holiday season- now what? There are so many different numbers and performances, so where do you start? Which night do you go? How do you choose? After going to Alvin Ailey two weekends in a row, I was amazed at how much the two nights differed and, after recommending the show to my friends, I decided I should help out by giving a brief description of what to expect on oncoming nights to help you pick the night that's best for you.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2013-14 season on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 3pm with Cirque Ziva, performed by The Golden Dragon Acrobats. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by phone at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm) or online at BrooklynCenterOnline.org.