CAPA Presents AILEY II at the Capitol 2/27

Ailey II is an exceptional modern ballet dance company that merges the spirit and energy of the country's best young talent with the passion and creative vision of today's most outstanding choreographers. The dancers are the most gifted of their generation, translating strength, agility, and grace of body and soul into stirring, powerful performances. Ailey II comes to the Columbus to perform an exhilarating and diverse repertoire that includes Alvin Ailey's timeless classics as well as new works by both dance veterans and celebrated emerging choreographers.

In association with The King Arts Complex, CAPA presents Ailey II at the Capitol Theatre (77 S. High St.) on Saturday, February 27, at 8 pm. Tickets are $35, $25, and $20 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Capitol Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance. Students between the ages of 13-19 may purchase $5 High Five tickets while available. This performance is made possible through the generous support of CAPA Spectrum Series sponsors David and Mo Meuse.

Ailey II began in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. Alvin Ailey initiated a workshop composed of the most promising scholarship students from The Ailey School and then handpicked the original company members from among that group. Ailey II embodies Ailey's pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Today, it has become one of the most popular dance companies in the nation.

Under the artistic direction of Sylvia Waters, Ailey II invigorates the American dance scene by offering unique opportunities for artists. Company members refine their technique while gaining invaluable performing and teaching experience during their tenure with the company. Throughout its history, many Ailey II company members have gone on to pursue successful careers as dancers, teachers, and choreographers with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, other professional dance companies, on Broadway, and in schools.

In recent years, Ailey II's distinctive repertory has included works by dance masters Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Ulysses Dove, Lar Lubovitch, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison, and such innovative choreographers as Robert Battle, Donald Byrd, Shapiro & Smith, Avila/Weeks, and Kevin Wynn.

Ailey II continues to win unmatched critical praise for its residencies at major colleges and universities, as well as its visits to elementary, middle, and high schools across the US. The critically acclaimed company has received numerous honors, awards, and proclamations in recognition of its innovative community outreach programs that showcase the talent of the country's best young dancers.

About Founder Alvin Ailey
Born in Rogers, Texas, Alvin Ailey was introduced to dance through 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 Ailey began creating dance, he drew upon his "blood memories" of Texas with the blues, spirituals and gospel as inspiration. This resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work, Revelations.

Although he created 79 ballets over his lifetime, Ailey maintained that his company was not exclusively a repository for his own work. Today, the company continues Ailey's mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones to add to the repertoire. In all, more than 200 works by over 70 choreographers have been performed by the company.

www.alvinailey.org

Tickets are $35, $25, and $20 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Capitol Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance. Students between the ages of 13-19 may purchase $5 High Five tickets while available. www.capa.com

The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. CAPA also appreciates the support of the Abigail Simpson, Grace K. and Robert L. Rohe, and Martha G. Staub Funds of the Columbus Foundation, assisting donors and others in strengthening our community for the benefit of all of its citizens, and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, supporting the city's artists and arts organizations since 1973.

Owner/operator of downtown Columbus' magnificent, historic theatres (Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre) and manager of the Riffe Center Theatre Complex, Lincoln Theatre, Valentine Theatre (Toledo, OH), and Shubert Theater (New Haven, CT), CAPA is a not-for-profit, award-winning presenter of national and international performing arts and entertainment now celebrating 40 years of service. For more information, visit www.capa.com.

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