Rennie Harris News

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) will celebrate the work of contemporary dance masters at its annual Winter Dance Concert, presented this year at three venues: Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in Downtown Los Angeles, Sharon Disney Lund Theater on the CalArts campus, and a special version for children and families at Los Angeles Dance Project's (LADP) creative headquarters in LA's Warehouse District.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater's stage from November 28 - December 30, 2018 for a milestone season. During the Company's Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary celebration, Artistic Director Robert Battle leads Ailey's 32 extraordinary dancers during this five-week holiday engagement that will elevate a legacy of excellence in artistry with premieres by some of today's most revered and prolific choreographers, including world premieres by Rennie Harris and Ronald K. Brown; a company premiere by Wayne McGregor; a new production of by Robert Battle; the return of a recent premiere by Jessica Lang, and special performances of rarely seen works by Alvin Ailey himself.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 60 on Monday, November 5, 2018 at 7:30pm.   In honor of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th anniversary, Artistic Director Robert Battle, Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, and choreographer Rennie Harris join in a conversation moderated by author and television producer Susan Fales-Hill that spotlights what truly makes Ailey so special. Leading up to a milestone holiday season at New York City Center November 28 - December 30, Ailey's acclaimed dancers perform highlights from signature classics by Alvin Ailey, repertory favorites by Robert Battle and Jamar Roberts and commissioned premieres that continue to break new ground, including Wayne McGregor's Kairos, and Rennie Harris' Lazarus - the Company's first-ever two-act ballet.  

As a centerpiece to its yearlong Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary celebration and a kickoff to its five-week holiday season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host a star-studded gala benefit on Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm, complete with a performance for the ages at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The Honorary Chairs for the evening are screen icons Angela Bassett and Cicely Tyson. Bassett, a Golden Globe Award winner, stars in the hit television series 9-1-1, and was most recently featured in the 2018 blockbusters Black Panther and Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Tyson - known for a myriad of roles across television and film, including Roots, Fried Green Tomatoes, and most recently How to Get Away With Murder - has received three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and on November 18th will make history as the first black woman to receive an Honorary Academy Award.

Under the direction of Charles O. Anderson, Dorothy O'Shea Overbey and Gesel Mason, The University of Texas at Austin's award-winning dance company Dance Repertory Theatre returns to the stage in Fall For Dance, November 6-11 at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. An examination of embodiment and innovation through contemporary ballet, Fall For Dance features works by renowned guest artists, including Gregory Dolbashian and Sidra Bell. 

As part of the "Ailey Ascending" 60th Anniversary celebration, the Choreography Unlocked Festival of performance, conversation, and master classes will take place at Ailey's home across two weekends - October 12 - 14 & 26- 28. Building on the success of the New Directions Choreography Lab, created by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle in 2011, the festival will elevate The Joan Weill Center for Dance's role in the community as a hub for creating and presenting new work and fostering the next generation of choreographers.  

Due to popular demand, second performances have been added for Private Peaceful, Songs of Freedom, and Teatro Linea de Sombra's Amarillo. Tickets and subscriptions for Essential Series performances are available at texasperformingarts.org.

New York City Center announced today full programming for the 15th Fall for Dance Festival (Oct 1 - 13). Opening the landmark 75th Anniversary Season, the Festival showcases an international array of dance artists and companies in five unique programs.  In keeping with City Center's founding mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, all tickets are $15.  

There is much to celebrate as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater heads into its 60th Anniversary season entitled Ailey Ascending. In addition to an unparalleled New York City Center holiday season November 28th - December 30th, the organization will honor and carry forward Alvin Ailey's pioneering legacy through a variety of exciting programs and events, including a two-weekend Choreography Unlocked festival of performance, conversation and master classes; rare discussions and legacy panels at partner institutions throughout New York City; and more.

To open the 45th season of its Dance Presenting Series, the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago presents the Chicago debut of Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD), a company rooted in street and social dance. Performances take place October 11-13 at the Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

New York City Center announced today full programming for the 15th Fall for Dance Festival (Oct 1 - 13). Opening the landmark 75th Anniversary Season, the Festival showcases an international array of dance artists and companies in five unique programs.  In keeping with City Center's founding mission to make the arts accessible to everyone, all tickets are $15.  

New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center production of Jason Robert Brown's musical Songs for a New World will receive a cast album to be released this fall.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts has announced an expansive 2018-19 season overflowing with close to 400 dynamic programs, including Philadelphia premieres such as Hamilton, returning favorites, free programming including New Year's Day, and much more! Select tickets are on sale to the public beginning Friday, September 14. Become a Kimmel Center member now through September 13 for early access and exclusive presales to all the 2018-19 performances.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim is pleased to announce its fall 2018 season, which includes new dance and music commissions, and a gala featuring a revival performance of a Works & Process Rotunda Project in the Guggenheim's iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed space. Since 1984 the performing-arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading choreographers, composers, dancers, musicians, and playwrights, among others. Programs explore the creative process through stimulating discussions with artists and riveting performance highlights. Each 70-minute program takes place in the museum's Peter B. Lewis Theater unless otherwise noted. Additional information is available at worksandprocess.org.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is excited to announce a fantastic new lineup to the 2018/19 season including the entertaining Family Discovery Series. Tickets for most shows are on sale now. This incredible lineup joins the already announced Broadway Philadelphia season that includes the Philadelphia premiere of Hamilton; and the 2018/19 Jazz Season.

Jason Robert Brown was just 25 years old when his SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD took the stage of Off-Broadway's intimate WPA Theatre. As he played piano and led the handful of musicians in director Daisy Prince's production, a quartet of actors who all had big things ahead of them (Brooks Ashmanskas, Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey and Billy Porter) revealed the vivid collection of complex and approachable emotions expressed by the extraordinarily relatable collection of characters created by this young man's music and lyrics.

Opening the 2018 Off-Center season (running through June 30), is Songs for a New World- the first musical from three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown. This powerful collection of songs examines life, love, and the choices ordinary people make when faced with extraordinary moments. From the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to the ledge of a Fifth Avenue high-rise, each character faces a new world which follows the unique challenge they encounter.

Opening the 2018 Off-Center season (running through June 30), is Songs for a New World- the first musical from three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown. This powerful collection of songs examines life, love, and the choices ordinary people make when faced with extraordinary moments. From the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to the ledge of a Fifth Avenue high-rise, each character faces a new world which follows the unique challenge they encounter.

Opening the 2018 Off-Center season on June 27 (through 30), Songs for a New World was the first musical from three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown. This powerful collection of songs examines life, love, and the choices ordinary people make when faced with extraordinary moments. From the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to the ledge of a Fifth Avenue high-rise, each character faces a new world which follows the unique challenge they encounter.

LUMBERYARD Contemporary Performing Arts opens its inaugural summer 2018 season, which will fill venues surrounding the organization's highly anticipated new facility in Catskill, New York, with Scat!,a dance-driven musical from Urban Bush Women set in Hudson, NY's Club Helsinki (June 29-July 1). The season,which runs from June 29 - September 2, represents the fullest realization to date of LUMBERYARD's unique dual promise: to make transformative contributions both to the cultural landscape and economic health of Upstate New York and to the field of contemporary performance in New York City and the U.S. by bringing renowned and emerging artists across the performing arts landscape to Catskill for out-of-town premieres, often incubated through LUMBERYARD's signature technical residencies.