Judith Jamison News

Tune into the newest episode of the Auditorium Theatre's #AudTalk video podcast tonight, May 13, at 6PM to hear a conversation between Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle and Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan as they discuss Ailey's history, its connection to the Auditorium Theatre, and more. Battle is the only the third artistic director to lead the Ailey company in its more than 60-year history, following Alvin Ailey himself and Judith Jamison. He has expanded the Ailey repertoire with a diverse array of works, and his choreographed pieces continue to connect profoundly with audiences. 

Keeping the Ailey spirit alive in the hearts of the community, the Ailey organization continues to deliver new content with Ailey All Access, a free online initiative featuring a series of weekly performance broadcasts, original short films created by the Ailey dancers, Ailey Extension dance and fitness classes and more.

The Ailey organization regrets to announce that health concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will prevent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's presentation of a June engagement at Lincoln Center, where the Company has performed for audiences each spring since 2013. 

The Ailey organization continues to carry out founder Alvin Ailey's belief that 'dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people' during this challenging time through Ailey All Access.

The Ailey organization continues to share the Ailey spirit with people wherever they are during this challenging time through Ailey All Access a?" free online streaming series featuring performances of full length works from the repertory, Ailey Extension dance classes, and original short films created by the Ailey dancers, and other especially created content.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ends its current 21-city tour at New Jersey Performing Arts Center for a three-day engagement over Mother's Day Weekend, May 8-10. Led by artistic director Robert Battle, Ailey's 32 renowned dancers will elevate a legacy of innovation and excellence in artistry with diverse works by preeminent choreographers.

Pearl Primus (also known as Omowale) was a pioneer of modern dance, dance as protest, and African dance in the United States. She was also cited as an inspiration by acclaimed artists such as Camille Brown, Ntozake Shange, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar; a teacher of Judith Jamison and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; a student of Martha Graham; friend of Paul Robeson; and a woman with a degree in medicine. Her medical career was thwarted by racism so she funneled her gifts to the world through the filter of dance instead.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is continuing its a?oeAiley Revealeda?? season during a 21-city North American toura?"including a stop at the McCallum Theatre at 8:00pm, Wednesday, March 25. Led by artistic director Robert Battle, Ailey's 32 renowned dancers will elevate a legacy of innovation and excellence in artistry with diverse works by pre-eminent choreographers, including world premieres that shine a spotlight on social issues, new productions, returning favorites, and timeless treasures by Alvin Ailey. 

In its annual Kennedy Center residency, the company tackles gun violence, love, youth and more in a program that includes new works and the seminal classic a?oeRevelations.a??

Following five-weeks of exceptional performances in New York City, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will continue its “Ailey Revealed” season during a 21-city North American tour which kicks off during Black History Month. The 2020 engagement opens on February 4th at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with a gala to benefit Ailey's D.C. programs, including the creation of new works, Arts-In-Education activities, and scholarships to talented young area dancers to attend The Ailey School in New York. Other major cities throughout the tour include Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berkeley, Seattle, Houston, and Boston, culminating with a Mother's Day performance in Newark on May 10th.

The Auditorium Theatre's Visiting Resident Company Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago March 4-8, 2020 with Midwest premieres, Chicago premieres, and new productions of classic works.

With a mix of exhilarating premieres, new productions, and retuning favorites, the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) marks its annual Kennedy Center engagement with seven performances on the Opera House stage from February 4a?"9. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the company has had a long-standing impact on the world of modern dance and a unique role in celebrating the African American cultural experience. The company's performances include premieres from esteemed choreographer Donald Byrd and Ailey dancer and first-ever resident choreographer Jamar Roberts that shine a spotlight on social issues. The engagement will see three D.C. debuts; two new productions; and two company premieres, along with Alvin Ailey's American masterpiece Revelations, which will be performed as the finale for all seven programs.

This January, Ailey Extension is helping New Yorkers dance into 2020 and reach their New Year's resolutions with workshops designed to help people get moving as they tap into new skills and experiment with different approaches to dance.

Celebrate the beginning of 2020 with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's final performances of the 2019-2020 holiday engagement at New York City Center.

Witness the final weeks of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's enchanting 2019-2020 holiday engagement at New York City Center. Upcoming highlights include holiday performances on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; an assortment of special programs; and a one-night-only season finale on what would have been Alvin Ailey's 89th birthday.

On Tuesday, December 17th Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater reveals the company premiere of Camille A. Brown's City of Rain. This quietly lyrical piece honors the struggles and grace of a deceased friend, showing a different facet of the choreographer than Ailey audiences have seen in her previous works for the Company. Dedicated to Greg 'Blyes' Boomer, the work for 10 dancers is set to an original composition by Jonathan Melville Pratt entitled Two Way Dream. A recipient of numerous honors, including a 2014 Bessie Award for Outstanding Production for the work Mr. TOL. E. RAncE (Camille A. Brown & Dancers), Ms. Brown choreographed Broadway's Choir Boy (TONY nominee for Best Choreography), the TONY Award-winning revival of Once On This Island, and the Emmy Award-winning television special, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. [There are five more chances to see City of Rain this season: Dec. 20 eve, 21 eve, 27 eve, Jan. 1 eve, 5 mat.]

Ailey Extension is spreading joy to the dance world with themed workshops to keep everyone in the holiday spirit. Over the next few weeks all are welcome to take part in festive workshops tied to the joyous season and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's holiday engagement through January 5, 2020 at New York City Center. Dancers can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Matthew Johnson Harris' HoliSLAY Hip Hop Cardio Dance Party and jump start their New Year's resolutions sweating it out at a Zumba Holiday Dance Party with Richard Martinez; or practice walking into the new year with confidence at a Runway & Vogue workshop with Pose on FX stars Dominique A. Jackson and Jason Rodriguez and discover the secrets of feeling powerful at an Absolute Beginner Heels workshop with Jessica Castro. Let the spirit of Ailey's holiday performances provide motivation to learn Ailey's signature style at Intro to Ailey Classics with Sarita Allen and explore Mr. Ailey's genius as a choreographer at Celebrating Alvin Ailey with Judith Jamison.

The Auditorium Theatre announces programming for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's March 4-8, 2020 performances in Chicago, featuring Midwest premieres and Ailey classics. The company gives the Midwest premiere to three works: Ode, created by Ailey dancer and the company's first-ever Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts; Greenwood, Donald Byrd's ensemble work inspired by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre; and Ounce of Faith, Darrell Grand Moultrie's ode to teachers and mentors. The engagement also includes Chicago premieres of BUSK, Aszure Barton's 2009 work premiered by the Ailey company in 2019, and The Call by Ronald K. Brown, a joyous mix of modern and West African dance. The company brings new productions of Ailey Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison's Divining and Lar Lubovitch's Fandango, along with audience favorites In/Side and Ella by Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle. Keeping with Chicago tradition, every performance ends with company founder Alvin Ailey's masterpiece Revelations.

On Tuesday, December 10th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues its holiday season with a celebration of The Ailey School's 50th anniversary, honoring its standard of excellence for providing exceptional training to more than 3,500 students annually. This special evening features students performing alongside the Company in Alvin Ailey's Memoria and Revelations.