Robert Battle News

A month ago while Jessica Lang was in Utah working with Ballet West, I rang her to interview her about her incredible year of ongoing success. Years ago I took class with Robert Battle and struck up a dance friendship with his company dancers including Jessica's husband Kanji Segawa. But I have never met Jessica herself. Of course she is the 'It Woman' of dance so I know a bit about her. With her embarrassment of accolades one would have to have their head buried in the sand not to. Besides the rapturous praise she has received for her work, she has also secured numerous commissions (American Ballet Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Japan at the New National Theatre Tokyo, Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet San Jose, Richmond Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ailey II, ABT II, Hubbard Street 2, and New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute, among many others), received many high profile awards (New York City Center Fellow for 2015, 2014 Bessie Award, 2013 Manchester Theatre Award, grants from Jerome Robbins Foundation, the NEA, the Choo San Goh Foundation, and a 2010 Joyce Theater Artist Residency supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation), is opening her own dance center in Long Island City, and is celebrating her company's 5th Anniversary Season at the Joyce. But how did she come to all of this?

Ailey celebrates NYC Dance Week - a citywide festival from June 16th - 25th that promotes the joy and diversity of dance - with FREE class offers at The Ailey Extension and inspiring performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Lincoln Center, through June 19th. 

This summer, three nights of encore performances from some of America's best dance companies will return to cinemas across the U.S., presented by Fathom Events and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Alvin Ailey American Dance Center is now presenting their 2016 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater through June 19th. See the company's stunning displays of modern dance that celebrate the African-American cultural experience.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's two-week spring engagement at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater kicks off today, Wednesday, June 8th with The Ailey Spirit Gala, a one-night-only benefit performance and party.

Lerner and Loewe's Broadway classic MY FAIR LADY, with 28-piece orchestra, will be staged by Light Opera Works at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, June 4 through 12.

The world renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Lincoln Center from June 8 - 19, and New Yorkers have a unique opportunity to join in the dance. The Ailey Extension announces the return of 'Ticket to Dance,' which allows audience members to try their first class FREE with a performance ticket (returning students receive a free class with the purchase of a 10-class card).

Artistic Director Robert Battle welcomes new Company members Ashley Mayeux and Solomon Dumas, and returning dancer Constance Stamatiou in time for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's two-week 15-performance engagement at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' David H. Koch Theater June 8th - 19th, 2016.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's two-week spring engagement at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater kicks off on Wednesday, June 8th with The Ailey Spirit Gala, a one-night-only benefit performance and party.  

Sadler's Wells has announced its Autumn / Winter 2016 Season.

The Steps Beyond Foundation, Steps on Broadway's non-profit arm committed to connecting artists and the community through dialogue, performance, and artistic collaboration, announces a 3-day weekend performance celebration May 6-8, 2016 at Ailey Citigroup Theater. The weekend will commence May 6 with the Steps Repertory and Guests Benefit, featuring performances by American Dance Machine, Jon Ole Olstad, choreography by Al Blackstone and the staging of a Swan Lake variation by Elena Kunikova to be danced by a student at Steps. Audiences will also enjoy performances by students of the Steps Conservatory Program and pre-professional students at The School at Steps, with staging by the legendary Leslie Browne. May 7-8, Steps Repertory Ensemble will present a full evening of works by Artistic Director Bradley Shelver and leading choreographers Lar Lubovitch, Sidra Bell, Julia Ehrstrand, and Jae Man Joo.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular dance companies, will return to Birmingham Hippodrome for the first time in six years and present two exhilarating programmes on 23 & 24 September during its autumn tour 2016.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular dance companies, will return to the UK for the first time in six years to present 10 works during six exhilarating programmes.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater makes a triumphant return to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for three performances, May 6-8 --- the final stop on a 20-city tour that began in Washington, D.C. and reaches from coast to coast. Beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, Alvin Ailey's pioneering legacy of uplifting, uniting, and celebrating the human spirit lives on as Ailey's extraordinary dancers bring a wide array of premieres, new productions, and classics to life.

Reinforcing the role of The Music Center as a major hub for dance in Los Angeles, The Music Center's powerful new dance season will engage both dance lovers and those new to the art form by challenging preconceived notions of classical ballet and exploring the realm of contemporary expression. The 2016-2017 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center) will provide the platform for some of the finest U.S. dance companies and artists along with internationally renowned companies who are among the most requested by Music Center audiences. This coming season opens with Celebrate Forsythe (October 21-23, 2016) as three American ballet companies - San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Houston Ballet - perform in one program in a never-before-seen approach to salute one of America's top choreographers, William Forsythe. The season continues with the distinctive contemporary work of Jessica Lang Dance (February 17-19, 2017); the return of the much-in-demand Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 8-12, 2017); the west coast premiere of Scottish Ballet's A Streetcar Named Desire (May 19-21, 2017); Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's exploration of the passions of Tchaikovsky (June 23-25, 2017); and an original program curated by New York City principal ballerina Tiler Peck with the return of The Music Center's BalletNow (July 28-30, 2017). A number of the engagements will be integrated with arts education programs including high school performances and teacher workshops. Center Dance Arts is the founding supporter of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center.

THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, PURCHASE COLLEGE is pleased to present STATE STREET BALLET'S CARMEN, choreography by William Soleau, music by George Bizet, and musical arrangement by Rodion Shchedrin. The performance will be Today, April 9, 2016 at 8:00pm in the Concert Hall at The PAC, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577.  

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, will return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for a two-week 15-performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater June 8th - 19th, 2016. Today, Artistic Director Robert Battle announced repertory for the season, including the world premieres of Deep by acclaimed Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti and Untitled America: Second Movement, the second work in a three-part suite by MacArthur 'Genius' Kyle Abraham. The season also includes new productions of Vespers, Ulysses Dove's breathtaking ballet for six women, and The Hunt, Robert Battle's thrilling work for six men, as part of over a dozen works featured on five different programs.

COSTA MESA, CA – Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in an exclusive Southern California engagement April 6 – 10, 2016. The program includes eight works never before seen at the Center, four Southern California premieres and new productions of Ailey classics. In addition to the three full repertory programs, on April 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Center and the Company will hold their second free community event – Revelations Celebration – on the Arts Plaza, and on April 6 at 7:30 p.m., Discover Ailey, a special hour-long Ailey mini performance with all seats at just one price.

The Auditorium Theatre  announces another season of exciting, diverse programming which supports its commitment to presenting the finest performances in international and local dance, along with America's most cherished music, to Chicago. Highlights of the Auditorium's 2016-17 season include Cole Porter 125 - A Birthday Celebration, featuring Chicago singers and musicians; Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater in their "Made in Chicago" Dance Series debut;  the return of Eifman Ballet's Red Giselle; and a new, innovative ballet by Dance Theatre of Harlem's Francesca Harper.

KANSAS CITY, MO (March 24, 2016) — Artistic Director Devon Carney announced the choreographers chosen for New Moves, a unique performance series designed to search out, develop and showcase emerging choreographers, both from the national dance scene as well as within Kansas City Ballet. New Moves is intended to provide time and space for choreographers to create world premiere works with accomplished professional dancers. New Moves will feature choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Andrew Skeels, Stephanie Martinez, and Kansas City Ballet company dancers Sarah Chun, Charles Martin and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.