Judith Jamison News

There is nothing negative I could possibly say about the performance I witnessed on April 4, 2019 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.  Such artistry is almost hard to describe.  This company has an amazing history and is superb in both their interpretation and their amazing technique. Their 60-year history of excellence is a gift to our lives that must always Be. What more could you want? Extreme gratitude given to Glorya Kaufman, and Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center.  Ms. Kaufman is an Angel for the Arts in Los Angeles; especially for Dance. Supple strength that fluidly morphs until it hits a line that is as outstretched and aesthetically perfect as could be, and those are the visual pictures they create with their bodies.  It is a way of moving that combines all the elements of different opposites that we feel, react to and dream of, painting a visual picture, conveying expressive perceptions.  

Venetia Stifler, executive and artistic director of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, on behalf of the 2019 Ruth Page Award Committee, awarded the 2019 Ruth Page Awards to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and its Artistic Director Robert Battle and Chicago Dance History Project and its Artistic and Executive Director Jenai Cutcher. The special event took place Friday, March 8 before the sold-out performance of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrating its 60th anniversary as a company and the 50th anniversary of performing at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. 

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced the first 11 new shows to be added to its 2019 2020 season, continuing its tradition of showcasing a diverse lineup of chart-topping musicians, compelling dance companies, and groundbreaking storytellers. Tickets for all shows go on-sale to LBC members today, Friday, April 5 at 12 p.m., and to the general public on Friday, April 26 at 12 p.m. Tickets are available online at lutherburbankcenter.org, by calling 707-546-3600, or at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts ticket office (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa), open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the return of the iconic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) for two main stage performances on March 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

Venetia Stifler, executive and artistic director of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and the 2019 Ruth Page Award Committee are pleased to announce their selections for this year's Ruth Page Awards. The recipients include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and its Artistic Director Robert Battle and Chicago Dance History Project and its Executive and Artistic Director Jenai Cutcher.  The 2019 Awards will be presented immediately before Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's performance celebrating 60 years of Ailey Ascending and the 50th anniversary of the Company's first performance at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the 2019 Ruth Page Awards are $60 and include a private reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Ailey performance at 7:30 p.m.  This performance is part of Ravinia's annual Ruth Page Festival of Dance.  Tickets and event information is available at EventBrite.com. For questions or additional information, contact Silvino da Silva, Director of Marketing & Communications at silvino@ruthpage.org or 312-337-6543.

Members of the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will provide Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) students and staff a once-in-a-lifetime training experience during a five-day artist-in-residence program at the school from March 11 through March 15. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is world renowned for its impactful choreography and performances, with repertoire highlighting important themes in American society.

92Y's Harkness Dance Festival celebrates its 25th season celebrating Merce Cunningham's centennial.

Following a 36-city world tour, Ailey II returns to NYU Skirball from March 13 – 17 for its annual New York season during Ailey's 60th Anniversary celebration. The renowned second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will inspire audiences in dynamic works by some of today's most revered choreographers. Premieres by Uri Sands, Bradley Shelver, Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle, and Ailey II Artistic Director Troy Powell will grace the stage, along with returning crowd-pleasers by Juel D. Lane, Renee I. McDonald, and Darrell Grand Moultrie.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago March 6-10, commemorating the company's 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its first performances at the Auditorium, its Chicago home. During these special engagements, Ailey gives Midwest premieres to Rennie Harris' Lazarus, the company's first ever two-act ballet; Wayne McGregor's Kairos; and Jessica Lang's EN. The company also performs the Timeless Ailey program, a curated selection of classic pieces by company founder and visionary Alvin Ailey.

Renowned for celebrating the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience, dance company Ailey II will perform at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Tuesday, February 26 at 8 p.m. 

92Y's Harkness Dance Festival celebrates its 25th season celebrating Merce Cunningham's centennial. For five weekends from March 1-30, HDF presents performances of Merce's own choreography for Cross Currents, Doubles, Landrover, Loose Time, Scenario and Septet, danced by New York Theatre Ballet, Melissa Toogood, Calvin Royal III and New World School of the Arts. The Festival continues with four weekends of world premieres representing four generations of Cunningham dancers who established companies of their own - Douglas Dunn, Dylan Crossman, Jonah Bokaer and Ellen Cornfield.

Skylight Music Theatre announced the cast and creative team for Five Guys Named Moe, a joyful, jazzy tribute to Louis Jordan, the 1940s rhythm and blues singer, songwriter and bandleader.

Actress Vanessa Williams and her daughter Jillian Hervey 'Lion Babe' share what Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater means to them in the video below!

There are just 13 chances left to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's holiday engagement at New York City Center before the season finale on December 30 at 7:30pm. Highlights include tonight's new production of Robert Battle's Juba;  continuation of Timeless Ailey, Three Visionaries, All Battle, and All New programs; a one-time-only Wednesday matinee performance on December 26; and a Special Season Finale featuring excerpts of this season's thrilling premieres, culminating with Alvin Ailey's timeless and inspiring masterpiece Revelations.

Cultural World Ambassadors, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, makes its return to the New York City Center for a milestone celebration of the company's Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary. As part of their annual five-week holiday engagement, the company honors the artistry and legacy of Mr. Ailey through special performances featuring an exhilarating mix of new premieres, audience favorites, and rarely seen works by Alvin Ailey himself! This celebration coincides with the City Center's landmark 75th anniversary.

Timeless Ailey is a nostalgic master class for diehard fans of Alvin Ailey's African-and-modern-dance-infused choreography and a good introduction for those who are not as in step with his classic works. The special program repeats on Dec. 22 and Dec. 30.

As the holiday season swells, witness the final weeks of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's historic 60th Anniversary season at New York City Center. Upcoming highlights include a thrilling assortment of special programs, a new production of Artistic Director Robert Battle's Juba, and critically-acclaimed premieres and returning favorites, including Alvin Ailey's timeless masterpiece, Revelations.

On Tuesday, December 4th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continued its historic 60th Anniversary season with the world premiere of Ronald K. Brown's The Call, the renowned choreographer's seventh work for the Company which he describes as “a love letter to Ailey.” The New York Times says, “The Call… is something of a conversation between the choreographers, a beauty of a dance that ripples along while highlighting Ailey's formality, his ebullience and how he came to find his choreographic voice.” There are four more chances to see The Call this season: Dec. 8 mat, 9 eve, 20, and 29 mat.

In celebration of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary, Ailey Extension invites people to experience the life, legacy, and artistry of Alvin Ailey through intimate panels and workshops led by his illustrious former dancers. Sylvia Waters will moderate the Growing Up with Alvin Ailey Legacy Panel on December 10, featuring former Ailey stars Sarita Allen, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, and Desmond Richardson as they share personal stories, individual experiences, and life lessons learned during their tenure dancing for the legendary founder. On January 5, what would have been Alvin Ailey's 88th birthday, Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison leads an exclusive Celebrating Alvin Ailey Workshop to share cherished memories of Mr. Ailey and teach some of his most well-known choreography.

The Auditorium Theatre announces programming for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's return to Chicago March 6-10, commemorating the company's 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of its first performances at the Auditorium, its Chicago home. During these special engagements, Ailey gives Midwest premieres to its first ever two-act ballet, Rennie Harris' Lazarus; Wayne McGregor's Kairos; and Jessica Lang's EN. The company also performs the Timeless Ailey program, a curated selection of classic pieces by company founder and visionary Alvin Ailey.