Northrop Presents Alvin Ailey American Dance 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.

Tickets and information about the program can be found here. Discover more about Northrop's 2018-19 Dance Season here.

Lazarus was inspired by Alvin Ailey's life as a groundbreaking African-American great, his pioneering legacy that changed the face of performing arts and the racial inequities our nation has faced. Premiering in late 2018 to widespread acclaim, The New York Timescritic called portions of Lazarus "something like heaven" and national television broadcastshave spotlighted the work in conjunction with its first performances across the U.S. The powerful ensemble work features a soundtrack with spoken word and modern song sampling that melds Nina Simone, Terrence Trent D'Arby, Michael Kiwanuka, Odetta, original music by Darrin Ross, and the voice of Alvin Ailey.

The show will close with the dance company's 1960 signature piece, Revelations, a masterpiece of hope and redemption that has frequently uplifted audiences at Northrop. Since its creation in 1960, Revelations has been seen by more audiences around the world than any other modern work, inspiring generations through its eloquent storytelling.

The creation of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater began on a March night in 1958 when the then Broadway-dancer Alvin Ailey gathered a group of dancers and presented a one-night show of his own works. Ailey and his company would later go on to make history with his artistry. Since its founding, the company has made history as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World" performing in 71 countries on six continents, winning awards and filling performance halls across the world for 60 years.

"Alvin Ailey forever changed the American landscape by raising up the lives and cultural heritage of African-Americas for all to see, opening the hearts and minds of people of every background and elevating the world of the performing of arts," said current Artistic Director Robert Battle.