Robert Battle News

On Wednesday, March 6, 200 guests gathered for the Auditorium Theatre's Celebrating Ailey Soiree, following the opening night performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The evening commemorated the Ailey company's 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the company's first performances at the historic Auditorium Theatre in 1969. All proceeds raised from the event benefit the Ailey company's continued engagements in Chicago at the Auditorium.

New York City's Parsons Dance, one of today's most prominent American dance companies, will return to White Bird after a long absence to perform a six-part program, featuring signature works alongside an exciting tribute to New Orleans jazz. Led by Artistic Director David Parsons, the 8-member company's unstoppable energy and spellbinding technique will provide for a spectacular night of contemporary dance. Founded in 1985 by former celebrated Paul Taylor dancer David Parsons and Tony Award-winning lighting designer Howell Binkley, Parsons Dance is internationally renowned for its athletic and energized ensemble work. The show runs April 4-6 at the Newmark Theatre, 7:30pm.

New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the return of the iconic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) for two main stage performances on March 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

Celebrating its remarkable 60th anniversary this year with a 21-city coast-to-coast tour, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Northrop on Tue, Mar 12, with a dynamic program featuring hip-hop innovator Rennie Harris' Lazarus, the company's first ever two-act ballet, as well as the company's signature work Revelations, acclaimed as a must-see for all.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica presents Ballet Hispánico (Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO) on March 22 and 23 at 7:30pm.  As America's leading Latino dance organization, Ballet Hispánico has been bringing individuals and communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through dance for nearly 50 years. Ballet Hispánico will present its All-Latina Choreographers Program featuring Línea Recta, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa; Con Brazos Abiertos, choreographed by Michelle Manzanales; and 3. Catorce Dieciséis, choreographed by Tania Pérez-Salas.

The Ailey organization continues its 60th Anniversary celebration during the annual New York season of Ailey II - The Next Generation of Dance. Led by Artistic Director Troy Powell, the 12 rising stars will perform at NYU Skirball March 13-17, showcasing their talents in two programs: All New featuring works by Uri Sands, Bradley Shelver, Robert Battle and Troy Powell; and Returning Favorites featuring works by Darrell Grand Moultrie, Juel D. Lane, and Renee I. McDonald.

Venetia Stifler, executive and artistic director of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and the 2019 Ruth Page Award Committee are pleased to announce their selections for this year's Ruth Page Awards. The recipients include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and its Artistic Director Robert Battle and Chicago Dance History Project and its Executive and Artistic Director Jenai Cutcher.  The 2019 Awards will be presented immediately before Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's performance celebrating 60 years of Ailey Ascending and the 50th anniversary of the Company's first performance at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the 2019 Ruth Page Awards are $60 and include a private reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Ailey performance at 7:30 p.m.  This performance is part of Ravinia's annual Ruth Page Festival of Dance.  Tickets and event information is available at EventBrite.com. For questions or additional information, contact Silvino da Silva, Director of Marketing & Communications at silvino@ruthpage.org or 312-337-6543.

Members of the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will provide Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) students and staff a once-in-a-lifetime training experience during a five-day artist-in-residence program at the school from March 11 through March 15. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is world renowned for its impactful choreography and performances, with repertoire highlighting important themes in American society.

The Music Center welcomes one of America's most popular dance companies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, back to Los Angeles with the dance company's 60th anniversary celebration tour at The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from April 3 - 7, 2019. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Ailey's remarkable dancers including Danica Paulos of Huntington Beach and Rehearsal Director and Guest Artist Matthew Rushing of Los Angeles, who has been with the Company for more than 25 years will perform four different programs of diverse repertory featuring West Coast premieres, new productions and returning classics. Part of the 2018/2019 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, which is curated by The Music Center's artistic division The Music Center Arts (TMC Arts), the engagement includes four special programs: Trailblazers, featuring the West Coast premiere of Lazarus by Rennie Harris the company's first two-act ballet; Bold Visions, featuring West Coast premiere of Wayne McGregor's Kairos and the Los Angeles premiere of The Call by Ronald K. Brown, alongside Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's Shelter; a Timeless Ailey program with rarely seen gems by one of America's greatest cultural leaders; and a Musical Inspirations program featuring the Los Angeles premiere of Ailey star Jamar Roberts' Members Don't Get Weary, a new production of Robert Battle's Juba, and his tour-de-force duet Ella.

Juilliard Dance, led by director Alicia Graf Mack, continues its season with Spring Dances, a repertory program featuring Martha Graham's The Rite of Spring, Bill T. Jones' D-Man in the Waters (Part 1); and Alejandro Cerrudo's Little mortal jump.

The Clive Barnes Foundation, under the leadership of former Royal Ballet soloist Valerie Taylor-Barnes, awarded its prizes today for the 9th Annual Clive Barnes Awards, recognizing excellence in Theater and Dance, to Edmund Donovan (Theater, Lewiston/Clarkston) and Zoey Anderson (Dance, Parsons Dance). The awards were presented by Michael Novak, artistic director of Paul Taylor Dance Company and Tony-winner Beth Leavel, currently starring in Broadway's The Prom. The event, hosted by New York Post columnist and WOR radio personality Michael Riedel was held at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center.

In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Artistic Director Robert Battle and members of Ailey's creative team collaborated with Bob Bonniol and Caryl Glaab of MODE Studios, Inc. to create this video tribute that includes rarely-seen photos, videos and audio interviews with the late Alvin Ailey.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Fox Theatre, February 21 - 24, 2019, as part of a 60th Anniversary North American tour, for six breathtaking performances that promise to uplift, unite and enlighten. Ailey's 32 incomparable dancers invite Atlantans to join in a celebration of Mr. Ailey through a variety of works celebrating his life and legacy. The engagement also includes a Family Matinee program on Saturday, February 23 at 2 p.m., which features a post-performance Q&A with the dancers.

Los Angeles-based company, Heidi Duckler Dance (HDD) is proud to present Ebb & Flow: Culver City 2019. After a successful one day event in 2018, HDD was asked to bring the festival back to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook for two days in 2019! The festival will take place at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook from 11 am - 7 pm on February 23 and 24, 2019.

Following a 36-city world tour, Ailey II returns to NYU Skirball from March 13 – 17 for its annual New York season during Ailey's 60th Anniversary celebration. The renowned second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will inspire audiences in dynamic works by some of today's most revered choreographers. Premieres by Uri Sands, Bradley Shelver, Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle, and Ailey II Artistic Director Troy Powell will grace the stage, along with returning crowd-pleasers by Juel D. Lane, Renee I. McDonald, and Darrell Grand Moultrie.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago March 6-10, commemorating the company's 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its first performances at the Auditorium, its Chicago home. During these special engagements, Ailey gives Midwest premieres to Rennie Harris' Lazarus, the company's first ever two-act ballet; Wayne McGregor's Kairos; and Jessica Lang's EN. The company also performs the Timeless Ailey program, a curated selection of classic pieces by company founder and visionary Alvin Ailey.

The groundbreaking Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Kennedy Center for its annual engagement with seven performances on the Opera House stage from February 5 10. Celebrating its 60th Anniversary season, the company has had a long-standing impact on modern dance and uniqueness in promoting the African American cultural experience. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the company's performances include Lazarus, the newest work by choreographer Rennie Harris co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center and premiered to acclaim during the company's recent New York season; three D.C. debuts; one new production; and a special Timeless Ailey classics program. Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations will be performed as the finale for all seven programs.

Renowned for celebrating the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience, dance company Ailey II will perform at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, February 26 at 8 p.m. 

Battery Dance is now accepting applications for the 38th Annual Battery Dance Festival, with free performances on August 11-17, 2019. To apply, visit https://batterydance.org/apply/.

Battery Dance is now accepting applications for the 38th Annual Battery Dance Festival, with free performances on August 11-17, 2019.