Alvin Ailey News

New York City Ballet hosts its 2014 Spring Gala tonight, May 8 at 7pm, featuring a special one-time-only program designed by NYCB's Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the opening of the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center, as well as celebrate its future with a World Premiere ballet by choreographer Justin Peck and composer Sufjan Stevens.

The world's most celebrated dancing partners, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev are re-united for this summer's hottest ticket, at the London Coliseum, Wednesday 6th - Saturday 9th August in producer Sergei Danilian's presentation of SOLO FOR TWO.

Twenty-five arts projects have been brought to life for the 2014 - 2015 season through Funding Arts Broward (FAB!). That's four more organizations than last year through this resourceful funding pool. The new arts organizations added to the FAB! portfolio are: Brazilian Voices; Chameleon Musicians;Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida and the Pablo Malco Foundation. Highlights of the most recent 25 awards will give South Florida one more opportunity to see Alvin Ailey - Back in Broward at Broward Center for the Performing Arts; another exposure of Puccini's Madame Butterfly though Florida Grand Opera; and Seraphic Fire's Broward Spring Season. This, just to name a few attractions that Broward residents and visitors can count on thanks to smart arts supporters who collaborate, give and enhance our community. Thank you FAB! "This grant award has been fundamental in helping the Coral Springs community see an expanded arts and culture portfolio within its very diverse suburban community," says grantee, Executive Director, Coral Springs Museum of Art, Bryan Knicely.

The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, is proud to present the Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific directed by Linda Dunn for its 101st season in 2014.

Vernard Gilmore will perform with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJ PAC) on Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th. Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Gilmore about his career and the upcoming spring season at NJ PAC.

American Theatre of Actors will hold a musical theater benefit on May 11th for St. Joseph's Indian School (www.stjo.org) in Chamberlain, South Dakota, which serves the impoverished Lakota children of the Pine Ridge and other reservations. Jane Culley, producer of the event and Vice President of American Theatre of Actors, has been a long-time supporter of the school. A remarkable roster of performers from Broadway, Cabaret and the dance world will donate their time and talents to this cause. In addition, stars of the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham dance companies will perform, and ATA actors will present a short play about the plight of the Lakota accompanied by native drummers.

The Joyce Theater will present the U.S. debut of Cuba's MalPaso Dance Company, performing the U.S. premieres of works by Ronald K. Brown and the company's artistic director Osnel Delgado, from May 27 - June 1. This engagement on the stage of The Joyce's landmark Chelsea home marks the first time MalPaso will perform outside of Cuba since the company's 2012 formation. Tickets range in price from $10-$59 ($26-$44 for Joyce Theater members), and can be purchased through JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or via the internet at www.joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street.

The Look of Feeling, a theatrical production of a one-woman show starring acclaimed artist Francesca Harper, premieres in a very special intimate limited engagement during May 2014 in New York City's theatre district. Conceived and written by Francesca and helmed by Directorial Consultant Susan Batson, The Look of Feeling is an epic saga of true stories told through dance and song about a woman, Denise Jefferson (1944-2010) - an American dance pioneer and the star's mother.

Co producers, Erin Fogarty and Daniel Ulbrict of the New York City Ballet, present The 4th Annual Dance Against Cancer, the American Cancer Society's signature dance event dedicated to raising funds and supporting the fight against cancer. Guests enjoy cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres, as well as world premiere dance performances from companies including New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Norwegian National Ballet, Broadway's finest, many more. Since its inauguration, Dance Against Cancer has raised over $200,000.00 in support of the American Cancer Society.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) announced today that it will honor dancer, choreographer, actress, producer, director and author Debbie Allen as Woman of the Year for the 31st Annual Black & White Ball. The recipient of numerous awards, including a Tony Award, Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards among others, Allen's many contributions to the performing arts and entertainment industry will be celebrated on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at ARIA Resort & Casino, CityCenter.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th for three performances. Metropolitan Area Audiences will enjoy the opportunity to see this beloved company perform their spring season in Newark.

FLASHDANCE: THE MUSICAL is a neat, sanitary, emotionless version of the 1983 classic movie. It's not quite ready for prime time.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton are pleased to announce the main company's 2014-15 season performances in Chicago, to include two weeks spotlighting a diverse trio of Princess Grace Award-winning choreographers, Hubbard Street's first performances of choreography by acclaimed artist Crystal Pite, and a celebration of Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo.

Elisa Monte Dance, an emotionally charged and highly acclaimed dance company that champions individuality, will celebrate its 33rd season with three world premieres in three days from May 15-17 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Artistic Director, Elisa Monte, will add to her collection of more than 50 works with the world premiere of Lonely Planet, the fourth and final movement in a succession of works that began in 2011. Additionally, Associate Artistic Director Tiffany Rea-Fisher will present Persona Umbra in its New York premiere and long time EMD principal dancer and choreographer Joe Celej will premiere their roots rest in infinity. The company will also restage Elisa Monte's 1987 Audentity.

On May 17, 2014, Princeton Ballet School will present its 2014 annual spring production, The Sleeping Beauty, at the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. Over 300 students will dance in this production.

Alonzo King, the celebrated contemporary ballet company, is guided by its uniquely global artistic vision. Drawing on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, the company's works imbue classical ballet with new expressive potential. Alonzo King's visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity-of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. The program includes Concerto for Two Violiins, Writing Ground, and Rasa, set to an original score created and performed live by tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

This celebrated contemporary ballet company is guided by its uniquely global artistic vision. Drawing on a diverse set of deeply rooted cultural traditions, the company's works imbue classical ballet with new expressive potential. Alonzo King's visionary choreography is renowned for its ability to connect audiences to a profound sense of shared humanity-of vulnerability and tenderness, but also of furious abandon and exhilarating freedom. The program includes Concerto for Two Violiins, Writing Ground, and Rasa, set to an original score created and performed live by tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, opens its 2014-15 season in December 2014 with New Dances: Edition 2014 featuring four world premiere dances by innovative choreographers, Juilliard alumnus Austin McCormick (1st-Year Dancers); alumna Loni Landon (2nd-Year Dancers); Kate Weare (3rd-Year Dancers); and Larry Keigwin (4th-Year Dancers). Mr. Keigwin is returning to Juilliard where he already choreographed and premiered, in December 2008, Runaway, a large-scale piece that riffs on the high fashion runway scene, and in December 2009, Megalopolis.

Award-winning choreographer Dwight Rhoden has been selected as the Honorary Degree Recipient at The Boston Conservatory's 2014 Commencement, scheduled for May 17, 2014. He will also deliver the 2014 keynote commencement speech.

After a semester of learning, collaborating, and developing their theatrical skills, Kimmel Center Education Department's Show Stoppers celebrates the end of its spring session with Rave Revues, a program of works featuring the music of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Bernstein's West Side Story, and Porter's Anything Goes in Perelman Theater on May 13 at 7 p.m.