Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Comes to Kennedy Center Tonight

Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (#AileyKenCen) makes its annual Kennedy Center appearance with seven performances in the Kennedy Center Opera House, tonight, February 2, through February 7, 2016. The Company returns to the Kennedy Center with two company premieres, three D.C. debuts, including Robert Battle's first world premiere since becoming artistic director in 2011, and a total of 11 works by a diverse range of choreographers. Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations will provide the finale for all five programs.

Washington, D.C. premieres include Awakening by Robert Battle, Exodus by Rennie Harris, and Open Door by Ronald K. Brown. Set to a symphonic score by John Mackey, Awakening-Battle's first new work since becoming artistic director in 2011-uses his taut, ritualistic style to powerful effect in a dance that expertly balances chaos and resolution, dissonance and harmony. In Exodus, Rennie Harris infuses his signature house dance moves with uncommon depth, and explores the idea of "exodus"-from one's ignorance and conformity-as a necessary step toward enlightenment. Ronald K. Brown used his travels to Cuba over the years to add new flavor to his signature style in Open Door, set to vibrant music from Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's latest album Cuba: The Conversation Continues.

This season's company premieres include No Longer Silent by Robert Battle and Piazzolla Caldera by Paul Taylor. No Longer Silent, a searing ensemble work set to a long-forgotten percussive score by Erwin Schulhoff, was originally created in 2007 as part of a concert of choreography that brought to life long-forgotten scores by composers whose work and lives were silenced by the Nazis. Set to Astor Piazzolla's fiery tango score, Paul Taylor's Piazzolla Caldera is a sensual exposé of tango, reinterpreted and reimagined with modern dance.

New productions include A Case of You by Judith Jamison, and Blues Suite and Cry both by Alvin Ailey. An excerpt from Jamison's 2005 Reminiscin', A Case of You is an emotional and sensual duet performed to Diana Krall's version of Joni Mitchell's song by the same title. Blues Suite centers around a cast of vividly drawn characters from Ailey's southern childhood who are summoned to dance and revel through one long, sultry night to the heartfelt songs of the blues. Dedicated to "all black women everywhere-especially our mothers," Alvin Ailey choreographed his signature solo Cry as a birthday present for his mother. Returning favorites include Night Creature by Alvin Ailey, ODETTA by Matthew Rushing, and Alvin Ailey's acclaimed Revelations.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will begin its annual engagement at the Kennedy Center with an Opening Night Gala Benefit on February 2, 2016. Proceeds from the Gala will support Ailey's Washington, D.C. outreach programs, as well as provide scholarships to talented young dance students from the D.C. area who would not otherwise be able to afford tuition at The Ailey School in New York City.

The company has earned a reputation as one of the finest international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance. Artistic Director Robert Battle has created ballets for the Ailey company and Ailey II since 1999, and has served as an artist-in-residence with The Ailey School. Mr. Battle is the third director to head the company since its founding by Alvin Ailey in 1958.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a group of young African-American dancers who performed in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers. Since then, the company has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on six continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa. The company has made frequent appearances at the Kennedy Center, dating back to the Center's opening performance in 1971 when Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater participated in the world premiere performance of Leonard Bernstein's Mass choreographed by Ailey.

Tickets start at $49. Tickets can be purchased online, at the Kennedy Center box office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Robert Battle, Artistic Director

Masazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director

February 2-6, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

February 6 & 7 at 1:00 p.m.

(DC) - DC Premiere
(NP) - A New Production of the Work
(CP) - Company Premiere

Tuesday, February 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Open Door (Ronald K. Brown) (DC)
Exodus (Rennie Harris) (DC)
Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Wednesday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Open Door (Ronald K. Brown) (DC)
A Case of You (Judith Jamison) (NP)
No Longer Silent (Robert Battle) (DC)
Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

(ALL AILEY WORKS)
Thursday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 7 at 1:00 p.m.
Blues Suite (Alvin Ailey) (NP)
Night Creature (Alvin Ailey)
Cry (Alvin Ailey) (NP)
Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Friday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Piazzolla Caldera (Paul Taylor) (CP)
Awakening (Robert Battle) (DC)
Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m.
Followed by a FREE Explore the Arts post-performance discussion

ODETTA (Matthew Rushing)
Exodus (Rennie Harris) (DC)
Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," grew from a now?fabled March 1958 performance in New York that forever changed the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey, a recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honor, and guided by Judith Jamison beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle, whom Judith Jamison chose to succeed her on July 1, 2011. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African?American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year?end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami?Dade County in Miami, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate). The Company also appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the United States and the world during extensive annual tours. The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world, Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people of all ages, and The Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey's permanent home-the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world-named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.