BWW Reviews: Alvin Ailey DANCE WORKS UNHINGED

When benevolence, fine artistry and pure movement conjoin, you get Dance Works Unhinged, a benefit concert choreographed and performed by members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. On Sunday July 20, 2013, the Ailey Citigroup Theater presented an evening of original works for a good cause: the support of the Ailey Dance Resource Fund-ADRF--which provides financial assistance to company members in the form of career transition grants, creative endeavor grants, and emergency loans.

The first piece, Elegiac Lament, choreographed by Jamar Roberts, opened with six striking women standing in the shape of a V, emitting power and elegance with each swirl of the hip and each contraction released. Dressed in sheer rust dresses that flowed with each movement, these women performed with authority and precision. Sincerely, Erika , choreographed by Jermaine Terry, profiled a dynamic dancer, Belen Pereyra, who optimized her character by thrusting her beautiful, long, curly hair as she pulsated in anguish with every thump of the bass.

All These As You Please was an incredible piece choreographed by Sean A. Carmon to a spoken Gertrude Stein work, Idem the Same, playing in the background. Three phenomenal dancers spoke a language of movement and distinction, telling a woman's story of how she wants to be pleased and how she is able to please.

Chemical Water, choreographed by Yannick Lebrun, took the performance to new heights as six lovely strong dancers dressed in Native American costumes performed with full command and confidence, depicting ritual, struggle and the power to overcome as they sailed across native waters to dry land.

Next of Kin, choreographed by Marcus Jarrell Willis, was one of the most adorable works of the evening. Danced by Matthew Rushing and Marcus Jarrell Willis, Next Of Kin reminded me of an old Laurel and Hardy episode where two people, joined at the hip, fight, compete, play, have fun together, and love one another. The antics of these two guys were as innocent as the bowties they were wearing, and it was a joy to watch.

Just Move, the final piece of the evening, was choreographed by Hope Boykin, a wonderful dance to end the concert. The dancers performed with joy, high energy and complete abandonment.
Dance Works Unhinged was a performance of risk, freedom, recovery, and deliverance. The Alvin Ailey dancers teased us with humor, classical lines, passion and temperament, at the same time telling heartfelt stories with beautiful music and incredible movement, transferring their passion for dance to life.