Joan Weill News

For the first time since March 2020, New Yorkers of all experience levels and backgrounds are invited to join in the dance at the Joan Weill Center for Dance – NYC’s largest building dedicated to dance – with their favorite instructors, inspiring guest artists and esteemed musicians. 

The acknowledgment of MacKenzie Scott's gift comes on the eve of the Ailey Spring Gala, which will be conducted as a virtual broadcast celebrating Hope, Promise and the Future. The broadcast will begin on June 24 at 7:30pm EDT and remain viewable without charge on the Spring Gala website for 48 hours.

Today we learn all about Alvin Ailey- a dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who is perhaps best known for founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). His work fused theater, modern dance, ballet, and jazz with black vernacular, creating hope-fueled choreography that continues to spread global awareness of black life in America.

Ailey Extension is closing Hispanic Heritage Month with a bang, by bringing back two beloved instructors to guide students through movement classes that honor Hispanic culture and contributions to dance. 

Ailey Extension is inviting budding and seasoned dancers alike to spring into dance at unique workshops with leading instructors and guest artists. Throughout the month of March, workshops allow dancers' skills to flourish as they discover fundamental elements of street styles with various instructors, explore unique approaches to fitness with a dance fitness professional, and experience Horton technique - the style of movement that can be seen during Ailey II's highly anticipated two-week season of exhilarating performances at The Ailey CitiGroup Theater from March 25 - April 5, 2020 - from Ailey II Artistic Director Troy Powell.

Accent Dance NYC, a collaborative of international artists dedicated to exploring the artistic, cultural, and humanistic connections among people through diverse dance styles, presents An Evening of Cultural Convergence at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City on April 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. An evening program showcasing the versatile talents of the Accent Dance NYC ensemble while building cultural bridges among collaborators through movement and music, audiences will enjoy works exploring the artistic, cultural, and humanistic connections among people from diverse backgrounds, purposefully juxtaposing elements of ballet, contemporary dance, salsa, jazz music, tango, hip hop, tap, and more.

Prospect Theater Company has announced the performing artists involved in the company's 2020 Musical Theater Lab, MOVE MEANT. The lab's culminating presentations are Monday and Tuesday Feb. 17th and 18th at 7:00pm at The Ailey Citigroup Theater, The Joan Weill Center for Dance (405 West 55th St. at 9th Ave.)

This February, Ailey Extension opens its hearts and doors for all novice and experienced dancers alike to celebrate love in various forms at special workshops and new classes. On Valentine's Day dancers can get their hearts pumping at a Zumba Valentine's Day Party with Jose Ozuna or celebrate romantic and platonic affection with a Valentine's Day Salsa Workshop led by Baila Society. A Father-Daughter West African Dance Workshop with Imani Faye lets parents and kids embrace love of family, and a Celebrating Brasilian Carnaval with Danielle Lima and Janete Silva encourages a passion for culture and tradition. Pose actors Dominique A. Jackson and Jason Rodriguez return for a Runway & Vogue Workshop to help participants practice self-love and confidence while a Move Your Curves workshop with Pretty BIG Movement creates space for students to exercise self-love and body positivity.

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??Accent Dance NYC, an education and performance initiative that champions diversity and communication through dance, places cultural convergence and community in the spotlight this season. With an in studio showing highlighting excerpts from the company's repertory on February 29 and a full-length evening of dance on April 9, the ensemble will showcase the versatile talents of Accent Dance NYC through the purposeful juxtaposition of ballet, contemporary dance, salsa, jazz music, tango, hip hop, tap, and more.

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) is proud to announce the events in its February IGNITE Concert Series, which showcases compelling new musical theater works in concert settings.

With a mix of exhilarating premieres, new productions, and retuning favorites, the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) marks its annual Kennedy Center engagement with seven performances on the Opera House stage from February 4a?"9. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the company has had a long-standing impact on the world of modern dance and a unique role in celebrating the African American cultural experience. The company's performances include premieres from esteemed choreographer Donald Byrd and Ailey dancer and first-ever resident choreographer Jamar Roberts that shine a spotlight on social issues. The engagement will see three D.C. debuts; two new productions; and two company premieres, along with Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations, which will be performed as the finale for all seven programs.

This January, Ailey Extension is helping New Yorkers dance into 2020 and reach their New Year's resolutions with workshops designed to help people get moving as they tap into new skills and experiment with different approaches to dance.

Ailey Extension is spreading joy to the dance world with themed workshops to keep everyone in the holiday spirit. Over the next few weeks all are welcome to take part in festive workshops tied to the joyous season and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's holiday engagement through January 5, 2020 at New York City Center. Dancers can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Matthew Johnson Harris' HoliSLAY Hip Hop Cardio Dance Party and jump start their New Year's resolutions sweating it out at a Zumba Holiday Dance Party with Richard Martinez; or practice walking into the new year with confidence at a Runway & Vogue workshop with Pose on FX stars Dominique A. Jackson and Jason Rodriguez and discover the secrets of feeling powerful at an Absolute Beginner Heels workshop with Jessica Castro. Let the spirit of Ailey's holiday performances provide motivation to learn Ailey's signature style at Intro to Ailey Classics with Sarita Allen and explore Mr. Ailey's genius as a choreographer at Celebrating Alvin Ailey with Judith Jamison.

Last night, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2019-2020 holiday season engagement at New York City Center kicked off with a star-studded Opening Night Gala Benefit performance and party led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, with award-winning actress and singer Renée Elise Goldsberry as honorary chair. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its five-week holiday season with a one-night only gala benefit on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm, complete with an exceptional performance at New York City Center and dinner-party at the Hilton New York Grand Ballroom.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its five-week holiday season with a one-night only gala benefit on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm, complete with an exceptional performance at New York City Center and dinner-party at the Hilton New York Grand Ballroom. The gala honors Philanthropist Elaine Wynn & The Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation for their generous contributions which have supported the creation of new works as well as the Elaine Wynn & Family Education Wing, which in 2017 added three floors a?" featuring four dance studios and two classrooms a?" to The Joan Weill Center for Dance, New York's largest building dedicated to dance.  The event's co-chairs are Emily & Len Blavatnik, Paulette Mullings Bradnock & Howard Bradnock, Mellody Hobson & George Lucas, Daria L & Eric J. Wallach and Joan & Sandy Weill.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will launch a five-week holiday season on December 4 with a star-studded gala benefit performance at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The special evening celebrates philanthropist Elaine Wynn and the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation. Wynn's generous contributions have supported the creation of new works as well as the Elaine Wynn & Family Education Wing, which in 2017 added three floors – featuring four dance studios and two classrooms – to The Joan Weill Center for Dance, New York's largest building dedicated to dance.

Judith Jamison and members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater appear at TEDx for REVELATIONS FROM OF A LIFETIME IN DANCE.

This October Ailey Extension offers a wealth of opportunities for dancers of all ages to learn moves from internationally-acclaimed dance icons and veterans of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The American Dance Guild Festival 2019, Shaping the Now: Dance in Uncertain Times, will honor dance educator and advocate Jody Gottfried Arnhold and choreographic luminaries Gus Solomons jr and Abdel R. Salaam, co-founder and director of Forces of Nature Dance Theater. There will be four days of performances by thirty-three contemporary choreographers from across the United States. The Festival will take place October 3 through October 6 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, in New York City. The 2019 American Dance Guild Festival is dedicated to past ADG President Muriel Manings. *Full lineup below.