Robert Battle News

For over six decades, the Ailey organization has brought people together through dance performances and programs manifesting founder Alvin Ailey's belief that 'dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.'

Keeping the Ailey spirit alive in the hearts of the community, the Ailey organization continues to deliver new content with Ailey All Access, a free online initiative featuring a series of weekly performance broadcasts, original short films created by the Ailey dancers, Ailey Extension dance and fitness classes and more.

In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is keeping its dancers in shape by conducting regular Company Classes online from Nai-Ni and Company dancer's living rooms using Zoom. After a few weeks, Company members and Nai-Ni invited former dancers of the Company and friends to join through Zoom.

In the midst of the COVID-19 Crisis, the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is keeping its dancers in shape by conducting regular Company Classes online from Nai-Ni and Company dancer's living rooms using Zoom. After a few weeks, Company members and Nai-Ni invited former dancers of the Company and friends to join through Zoom. At the same time, company dancers translated their online dance teaching skills to serve K-12 students and students with disabilities in underserved communities. Dance has brought them rays of hope and joy in their confined environment.

The Ailey organization regrets to announce that health concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will prevent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's presentation of a June engagement at Lincoln Center, where the Company has performed for audiences each spring since 2013. 

The Ailey organization continues to carry out founder Alvin Ailey's belief that 'dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people' during this challenging time through Ailey All Access.

The Ailey organization is reaching out to share the Ailey spirit with people wherever they are during this challenging time through Ailey All Access - an online streaming series featuring performances of full length works from the repertory, Ailey Extension dance classes, and original short films created by the Ailey dancers.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ends its current 21-city tour at New Jersey Performing Arts Center for a three-day engagement over Mother's Day Weekend, May 8-10. Led by artistic director Robert Battle, Ailey's 32 renowned dancers will elevate a legacy of innovation and excellence in artistry with diverse works by preeminent choreographers.

It was humbling listening to audience members remark upon the beauty and pure joy of seeing a stage filled with artists of color, responding to a shared sense of knowing, especially Ailey's work, Cry, dedicated in the program to 'all Black women everywhere - especially our mothers.' The ability for audience members to feel seen in a 2,000 plus seat auditorium, by a nearly fifty-year-old work, is the platform Ailey gave his artists.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is continuing its a?oeAiley Revealeda?? season during a 21-city North American toura?"including a stop at the McCallum Theatre at 8:00pm, Wednesday, March 25. Led by artistic director Robert Battle, Ailey's 32 renowned dancers will elevate a legacy of innovation and excellence in artistry with diverse works by pre-eminent choreographers, including world premieres that shine a spotlight on social issues, new productions, returning favorites, and timeless treasures by Alvin Ailey. 

In its annual Kennedy Center residency, the company tackles gun violence, love, youth and more in a program that includes new works and the seminal classic a?oeRevelations.a??

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center), programmed by TMC Arts, marks the return performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from March 18-22, 2020.

Following five-weeks of exceptional performances in New York City, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will continue its “Ailey Revealed” season during a 21-city North American tour which kicks off during Black History Month. The 2020 engagement opens on February 4th at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with a gala to benefit Ailey's D.C. programs, including the creation of new works, Arts-In-Education activities, and scholarships to talented young area dancers to attend The Ailey School in New York. Other major cities throughout the tour include Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Seattle, Houston, and Boston, culminating with a Mother's Day performance in Newark on May 10th.

Many of New York City and the country's most renowned dancers and dance companies including American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and Zoey Anderson from Parsons Dance performed on Monday, January 27 at 7:30pm at The Joyce Theater (175 8th Avenue) at the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation's (Founder/Executive Director Joe Lanteri) DESTINY RISING, an evening of dance artistry to benefit the NYCDA Foundation College Scholarship Program which to date has awarded over $3 million in college scholarships to over 300 dancers all over the country (in 2019, NYCDAF awarded a total of $470,000 in scholarships). There was $88k in scholarships awarded on 1/27 to nine dancers: $6,000 each to Megan Nee (FL), Kaitlyn Bien (IL) and Tyler Burden (NY); $8,000 each to Sophia Borgarello (TX), Carly Bocchino (FL) and Anna Bermudez (FL); $14,000 each to Kelis Robinson (Canada and Joey Gertin (Canada); and $18,000 to Sydney Revennaugh (FL). They also received Summer Study Scholarships to Steps on Broadway and Peridance Capezio

The Auditorium Theatre's Visiting Resident Company Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago March 4-8, 2020 with Midwest premieres, Chicago premieres, and new productions of classic works.

Many of New York City and the country's most renowned dancers and dance companies including American Ballet Theatre Studio Company and Parsons Dance will perform on Monday, January 27 at 7:30pm at The Joyce Theater (175 8th Avenue) at the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation's (Founder/Executive Director Joe Lanteri) DESTINY RISING, an evening of dance artistry to benefit the NYCDA Foundation College Scholarship Program which to date has awarded $3 million in college scholarships to over 300 dancers all over the country.

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.

Celebrate the beginning of 2020 with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's final performances of the 2019-2020 holiday engagement at New York City Center.

Witness the final weeks of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's enchanting 2019-2020 holiday engagement at New York City Center. Upcoming highlights include holiday performances on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; an assortment of special programs; and a one-night-only season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 89th birthday.

On Tuesday, December 17th Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater reveals the company premiere of Camille A. Brown's City of Rain. This quietly lyrical piece honors the struggles and grace of a deceased friend, showing a different facet of the choreographer than Ailey audiences have seen in her previous works for the Company. Dedicated to Greg 'Blyes' Boomer, the work for 10 dancers is set to an original composition by Jonathan Melville Pratt entitled Two Way Dream. A recipient of numerous honors, including a 2014 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production for the work Mr. TOL. E. RAncE (Camille A. Brown & Dancers), Ms. Brown choreographed Broadway's Choir Boy (TONY nominee for Best Choreography), the TONY Award-winning revival of Once On This Island, and the Emmy Award-winning television special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. [There are five more chances to see City of Rain this season: Dec. 20 eve, 21 eve, 27 eve, Jan. 1 eve, 5 mat.]