Joan Weill News

Gloria McLean, President of the American Dance Guild, announced today the lineup for ADG Festival 2019, Shaping the Now: Dance in Uncertain Times. Honors go to 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, complementing 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.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater's stage from December 4, 2019 a?' January 5, 2020. Artistic Director Robert Battle leads Ailey's 32 extraordinary dancers during this annual five-week engagement, which has become a joyous holiday tradition.  The repertory features more than two dozen diverse works by some of the world's preeminent choreographers, including world premieres by Donald Byrd and Ailey dancer and newly announced Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts, company premieres by Aszure Barton and Camille A. Brown, and new productions by Judith Jamison and Lar Lubovitch.

Shimmy into summer at Ailey with a variety of exciting workshops, classes and more for movers of all ages and experience levels. As temperatures rise, Ailey Extension opens its doors for novice and professional students alike to refine their technique, learn from the city's top instructors, connect with others in the NYC dance community, and have an unforgettable experience with the Ailey legacy all summer long at the Joan Weill Center for Dance - home of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts David H. Koch Theater for a seven-performance engagement from June 12-16. Highlights include the world premiere of Darrell Grand Moultrie's Ounce of Faith on Wednesday, June 12; The Ailey Spirit Gala benefit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Ailey School on Thursday, June 13; performances celebrating and commemorating Pride Month; and a culminating program on Sunday, June 16 honoring dance legend Carmen de Lavallade.

Pioneering dancer, choreographer, founder, and LGBT icon Alvin Ailey will forever be remembered for taking a stand for equality, shining a spotlight on social justice, using his artistry to open hearts and minds around the world, and creating a safe space for other artists of all backgrounds to share their stories. Mr. Ailey said, to be who you are and become what you are capable of is the only goal worth living.' Carrying forward his revolutionary legacy, the Ailey organization celebrates Pride Month 2019 with an array of inspiring activities that will bring audiences to their feet and into the studios, including special performances during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center engagement (June 12-16) and two Pride workshops for all movers at Ailey Extension.

This June, Ailey Extension invites New Yorkers to celebrate dance onstage and off when NYC Dance Week returns Thursday, June 13 through Saturday, June 22, coinciding with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center engagement June 12-16, 2019. Throughout the annual citywide festival, Ailey Extension will offer over 25 free* dance and fitness classes for adults of all experience levels at The Joan Weill Center for Dance - New York's largest building dedicated to dance and the official home of Ailey. As a bonus, the entire family can come together on the dance floor during NYC Dance Week for a lively celebration of music, dance, and oral traditions with a free West African Family class with Maguette Camara on Friday, June 14 at 6:30pm.

The centerpiece of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Lincoln Center engagement is The Ailey Spirit Gala on Thursday, June 13th. The event launches the 50th Anniversary celebration of The Ailey School, which has served as a springboard for many notable artists, including more than 70% of the dancers in the Company. The evening's Honorary Chair is award-winning actress Lorraine Toussaint, who currently stars in NBC's The Village, Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, AMC's Into the Badlands, and the recently released supernatural thriller Fast Color. She will also star in the upcoming films Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark and The Glorias, where she will portray the iconic feminist and civil right activist Flo Kennedy opposite Julianne Moore. Toussaint is the parent of a student at The Ailey School.

Step into the studios at The Joan Weill Center for Dance for a global exploration of traditional dance styles and rhythms during Ailey Extension's annual World Dance Celebration. This highly anticipated eight-week workshop series – beginning April 15 and culminating with performances of what participants learned on June 8 and 9 – combines folkloric dance styles and live accompaniment native to Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East to celebrate the rich heritage of indigenous cultures, all united through the power of movement.

Sprinkles Productions and the Theatre Authority will present a benefit concert of My Princess Diana to raise money for Broadway Cares / Equity Fight AIDS.

This February, Ailey Extension welcomes students to the Joan Weill Center for Dance - New York's largest building dedicated to dance and home of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - to adopt heart healthy behaviors through new and exciting dance and fitness classes for everyone.

In celebration of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary, Ailey Extension invites people to experience the life, legacy, and artistry of Alvin Ailey through intimate panels and workshops led by his illustrious former dancers. Sylvia Waters will moderate the Growing Up with Alvin Ailey Legacy Panel on December 10, featuring former Ailey stars Sarita Allen, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, and Desmond Richardson as they share personal stories, individual experiences, and life lessons learned during their tenure dancing for the legendary founder. On January 5, what would have been Alvin Ailey's 88th birthday, Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison leads an exclusive Celebrating Alvin Ailey Workshop to share cherished memories of Mr. Ailey and teach some of his most well-known choreography.

The Dance Gallery Festival will return for their 12th annual New York performance showcase, Friday, November 2 at Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, 29 Jay St in Brooklyn, and on November 3 and 4 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC with more than 25 artists in a weekend of groundbreaking work performed in three distinct and separate programs. See full lineup below.

The Dance Gallery Festival will return for their 12th annual New York performance showcase, Friday, November 2 at Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, 29 Jay St in Brooklyn, and on November 3 and 4 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC with more than 25 artists in a weekend of groundbreaking work performed in three distinct and separate programs. See full lineup below.

The American Dance Guild Festival 2018, Visions Then and Now, will honor choreographic luminaries Jane Comfort and the late Eleo Pomare in four days of performances by 32 multi-generational artists from across the United States. The Festival will take place October 25 through October 28 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, in New York City.

Friday, October 12, 2018 kicked off the first of two weekends of Ailey's Choreography Unlocked Festival featuring an array of panel discussions, conversations, master classes and performances. All programs and events will take place at Ailey's home at The Joan Weill Center for Dance in New York City. As part of the “Ailey Ascending” 60th anniversary year-long celebration, it honors the pioneering legacy of Mr. Alvin Ailey himself and his spirit and belief that “dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people.”

The Dance Gallery Festival will return for their 12th annual New York performance showcase, Friday, November 2 at Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, 29 Jay St in Brooklyn, and on November 3 and 4 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC with more than 25 artists in a weekend of groundbreaking work performed in three distinct and separate programs. See full lineup below.

As part of the "Ailey Ascending" 60th Anniversary celebration, the Choreography Unlocked Festival of performance, conversation, and master classes will take place at Ailey's home across two weekends - October 12 - 14 & 26- 28. Building on the success of the New Directions Choreography Lab, created by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle in 2011, the festival will elevate The Joan Weill Center for Dance's role in the community as a hub for creating and presenting new work and fostering the next generation of choreographers.  

The Dance Gallery Festival will return for their 12th annual New York performance showcase, Friday, November 2 at Gelsey Kirkland Arts Center, 29 Jay St in Brooklyn, and on November 3 and 4 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC with more than 25 artists in a weekend of groundbreaking work performed in three distinct and separate programs. See full lineup below.

Performed at The Ailey Citigroup Theater in Ailey's home, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, Reveal featured nine original works choreographed and performed by members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, with a special appearance by acclaimed Guest Artist and Rehearsal Director Matthew Rushing. Choreographers included Hope Boykin, Clifton Brown, Vernard Gilmore, Yannick Lebrun, Chalvar Monteiro, Jamar Roberts, and Kanji Segawa.