Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Returns To The Fox Theatre

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.

Tickets are on sale now at FoxTheatre.org, the Fox Theatre Ticket Office, and 855-285-8499. Ticket prices start at $29, plus applicable fees. Single-event access to the Marquee Club presented by Lexus will be available for purchase on top of your show ticket. Marquee Club passes are $55 per person and include an enhanced pre-show through post-show experience with complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The opening night Trailblazers program on Thursday, February 21 features Lazarus, a world premiere by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris and the Company's first two-act ballet. Inspired by Mr. Ailey and addressing the racial inequities our nation has faced, both in 1958 when the company was founded and today, Lazarus is an ensemble work featuring a soundtrack that melds Nina Simone, Terrence Trent D'Arby, Michael Kiwanuka, Odetta, original music by Darrin Ross, and the voice of Alvin Ailey. The opening performance is also WSB-TV's Family 2 Family Night, hosted by anchor Jovita Moore. The Trailblazers program repeats on Sat., Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. (hosted by KISS 104.1 FM).

The Heart and Soul program on Friday, February 22 at 8pm includes three exciting works: Ailey star Jamar Roberts' Member Don't Get Weary, created to powerful music of jazz legend "as a response to the current social landscape in America;" 2018 Dance Magazine Award recipient Ronald K. Brown's world premiere The Call, a quintet that seamlessly blends modern and West African dance styles in a joyous dance celebrating Mr. Ailey's guiding vision; and the return of the electrifying Juba, Robert Battle's first work choreographed for the Company back in 2003. This evening will be hosted by V-103. The Heart and Soul program repeats on Saturday, February 23 at 2p.m (Family Matinee performance by a Q&A with Ailey dancers).

For one performance only, the Timeless Ailey program will bring over a dozen treasures from Mr. Ailey's rich body of work to the Atlanta stage on Sunday, February 24 at 3 p.m. Excerpts from rarely seen gems, including Streams, Opus McShann, The Lark Ascending, For "Bird" - With Love, will be joined by perennial favorites like Memoria, Night Creature, and Cry.

The uplifting finale of each program will be Alvin Ailey's must-see masterpiece Revelations, which has been seen by more audiences around the world than any other modern work. Springing from Ailey's childhood memories of growing up in the south and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African-American and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition. The American masterpiece was choreographed in 1960 when Alvin Ailey was only 29 years old and is as relevant now as ever.

"I am thrilled to bring our 60th Anniversary celebration to Atlanta, a city that has long embraced Alvin Ailey, whose pioneering vision opened the hearts and minds of people of every background and elevated the world of the performing arts," said Robert Battle. "During this milestone season, we honor Alvin Ailey's storied legacy with dynamic performances, educational programs that enlighten young people, and the development of the next generation of performing artists. What Mr. Ailey gave us is more than a repertory and a tradition. It is a movement, a direction, a desire, a conviction that if the spirit is to live it must rise. We dedicate our 60th Anniversary to the next ascent."

In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of dancers took the stage in New York and forever changed American dance and culture. One of the country's groundbreaking greats, his Company inspires all in a universal celebration of the human spirit using the African-American cultural experience and the modern dance tradition. 60 years after its founding, Ailey continues to move forward under the leadership of Robert Battle, revealing time and again why Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the world's most beloved dance companies.

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