Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Returns to New Orleans 2/26 & 2/27

The New Orleans Ballet Association | NOBA is proud to present Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts on February 26 and 27 at 8pm. Known for exhilarating performances that are praised around the globe, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to mark the company's first appearance in New Orleans since 2005 and to celebrate legendary Judith Jamison's 20th year as artistic director.

Acclaimed for their beauty, passion and power, the dancers of Ailey will move audiences with two programs of revered classics, as well as works never before seen in New Orleans that recently debuted in the company's New York season. The Friday performance features the New Orleans premiere of Ronald K. Brown's new work, Dancing Spirit, a tribute to Judith Jamison's profound influence set to music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis and War. George Faison's Suite Otis, showcases the technical and acting skills and is set to soul music by the legendary singer Otis Redding. The Friday performance will also include Alvin Ailey's iconic masterpiece, Revelations.
On Saturday, AAADT's acclaimed 18-year veteran dancer Matthew Rushing invites audiences to visit the Harlem Renaissance in Uptown, his first solo choreographic effort for the company. Bringing to life that era's legends and swinging glory, the piece is set to the vibrant music of Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Nat "King" Cole and more. Other highlights on Saturday include: Ulysses Dove's Episodes, set to an original score by Robert Ruggieri; Hans Van Manen's Solo, a whirlwind of movement and musicality featuring three dancers in an explosive display of agility and grace and set to Bach's Violin Suite; and the Ailey classic Night Creature, an homage to the exuberance of Duke Ellington's jazz.

New Orleans' very own Rosalyn Deshauteurs will be dancing in multiple works on both nights. Deshauteurs, a native of New Orleans, studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. She trained at Perry Mansfield, the School of American Ballet and The Ailey School. After receiving her B.F.A. degree from The Juilliard School, Deshauteurs became a member of Ailey II and then joined the Company in 2000. She will perform in Suite Otis, Revelations, Night Creature, Episodes, and Uptown.

Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's inspiring performances, seen in over 70 countries on 6 continents, honor and enrich the African American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition, uniting people of all backgrounds in a celebration of the human spirit through the universal language of dance.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances begin at 8pm; there are a LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE. Ticket prices range from $20 to $65. Students and seniors (65 and older) receive a $7 discount off the regular ticket prices of $40 and higher. Group discounts also are available. For tickets or information, call the New Orleans Ballet Association Box Office at (504) 522-0996.

In addition to the evening performances, NOBA is also presenting a community matinee at 2pm on Saturday. The matinee is by invitation only to local outreach organizations such as the Urban League of New Orleans, New Orleans Women's Shelter, the Beautiful Foundation, and NO/AIDS Task Force. AAADT will conduct a master class on February 27 for the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance. For more information about master class opportunities call (504) 522-0996 x 203 or email cmock@nobadance.com.

The Ailey School will also hold auditions for its Summer Intensive, Certificate, and Independent Study Programs at Tulane University on Saturday, February 27 at 9am. A 60-minute audition in ballet and a 60-minute audition in modern dance will be offered. Auditions are open to dancers who have had a minimum of three years consistent training in ballet and modern; there is a $20 audition fee. Registration and additional information are available at www.theaileyschool.edu.

In 1969, Alvin Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in Brooklyn, New York with an initial enrollment of 125 students. Guided by the belief that dance instruction should be made available to everyone, Mr. Ailey joined forces with Pearl Lang in 1970 to establish the American Dance Center in Manhattan. In 1982, The Ailey School and its programs received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Dance and continue to flourish under the direction of Denise Jefferson. A prestigious faculty of dance professionals trains over 3,000 students annually. Under the direction of Sylvia Waters, the School's junior company in residence, Ailey II, serves as a bridge between the School and the professional dance world.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances are sponsored by AT&T and Capital One Bank, with additional support by Louisiana Lottery.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company History

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from the now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance. The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 23 million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on six continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa. In 2008, the U.S. Congress designated the Company as "a vital American cultural ambassador to the world," promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.

Born in Rogers, Texas on January 5, 1931, Alvin Ailey was introduced to dance by performances of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. His formal dance training began with an introduction to Lester Horton's classes by his friend, Carmen De Lavallade.
When Mr. Ailey began creating dance, he drew upon his "blood memories" of Texas, the blues, spirituals and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work--Revelations.

Although he created 79 ballets over his lifetime, Alvin Ailey maintained that his company was not exclusively a repository for his own work. Today, the Company continues Mr. Ailey's mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones. In all, more than 200 works by over 80 choreographers are part of the Ailey company's repertoire.

Before his untimely death in 1989, Alvin Ailey asked Judith Jamison to become Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. This year, Jamison celebrates her 20th anniversary in that role. Remaining committed to furthering Alvin Ailey's legacy, she has brought the Company to unprecedented success. Ms. Jamison wrote in her autobiography, Dancing Spirit, "I hope I'm a continuation of Alvin's vision. He has left me a road map. It's very clear. It works."
Judith Jamison, Artistic Director

Judith Jamison was appointed Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December 1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his untimely death. A native of Philadelphia, she studied with Marion Cuyjet, was discovered by Agnes De Mille and made her New York debut with American Ballet Theatre in 1964. She became a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the Company for 15 years to great acclaim. Recognizing her extraordinary talent, Mr. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her, most notably the tour-de-force solo, Cry.

After leaving the Company in 1980, Ms. Jamison appeared as a guest artist with ballet companies all over the world and starred in the hit Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies. In 1988, she formed her own company, The Jamison Project; a PBS special depicting her creative process, Judith Jamison: The Dancemaker, aired nationally the same year.

As a highly regarded choreographer, Ms. Jamison has created works for many companies. Her new work, Among Us (Private Spaces: Public Places), premieres this season. In 2005, Reminiscin', was inspired by great female jazz artists and Edward Hopper's famous painting Nighthawks. Love Stories, with additional choreography by Robert Battle and Rennie Harris, was created in 2004. In 2002, HERE . . .NOW. was commissioned for the Cultural Olympiad in Salt Lake City. She choreographed Double Exposure for the Lincoln Center Festival in July 2000. Divining (1984), Rift (1991), Riverside (1995), Sweet Release (1996), Echo: Far From Home (1998) and Hymn (1993), her stirring tribute to Mr. Ailey, are other major works she has choreographed for the Company.
Ms. Jamison is an author whose autobiography, Dancing Spirit, was edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and published by Doubleday in 1993. She is the recipient of many awards and honorary degrees, including a prime time Emmy Award and an American Choreography Award in the PBS "Great Performances: Dance In America" special, A Hymn for Alvin Ailey, and an honorary doctorate from Howard University. In December 1999, Ms. Jamison was presented with the Kennedy Center Honor, recognizing her lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. In 2001, she received the Algur H. Meadows Award from Southern Methodist University and was presented with a National Medal of Arts, the most prestigious award presented to artists in the United States. She received the "Making a Difference" Award by the NAACP ACT-SO, the Paul Robeson award from Actors' Equity Association in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the performing arts and commitment to the right of all people to live in dignity and peace, and a Bessie Award for her lifetime commitment to the preservation and development of dance and the arts. This year, Ms. Jamison was honored at "The BET Honors," an event that recognizes the lives and achievements of leading African-American luminaries and she was listed in the TIME 100: The World's Most Influential People. Most recently, she was awarded the highest rank of the Order of Arts and Letters, an award that recognizes eminent artists and writers, and those who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.

Today, Judith Jamison presides over the artistically and fiscally vibrant Ailey organization. Her presence has been a catalyst, propelling the organization in new directions - the development of the Women's Choreography Initiative; performances at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and the 2002 Cultural Olympiad in Salt Lake City where she carried the Olympic torch during the relay prior to the opening ceremonies; and two historic engagements in South Africa. Recently, she led the Company on a 50-city global tour celebrating Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 50th anniversary with a year-long series of special performances, collaborations, events and commemorative merchandise including an Ailey Barbie® Doll by Mattel designed by Ms. Jamison.

She has continued Mr. Ailey's practice of showcasing the talents of emerging choreographers from within the ranks of the Company. As Artistic Director of The Ailey School, official school of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ms. Jamison has helped to implement a multicultural curriculum including the dances of West Africa and South India. She is an advocate for education in the arts and was a guiding force in establishing the B.F.A. program between The Ailey School and Fordham University, which offers a unique combination of world-class dance training and a superior liberal arts education. Following the tradition of Alvin Ailey, Ms. Jamison is dedicated to asserting the prominence of the arts in our culture, spearheading initiatives to bring dance into the community and programs that introduce children to the arts. She remains committed to promoting the significance of the Ailey legacy--dance as a medium for honoring the past, celebrating the present and fearlessly reaching into the future. The move to Ailey's permanent home, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, in 2004, a state-of-the-art building located at 55th Street and 9th Avenue, was the realization of her long-awaited dream.

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