Robert Battle News

Battery Dance is now accepting applications for the 38th Annual Battery Dance Festival, with free performances on August 11-17, 2019.

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

Did you know Robert Battle choreographed 'Takademe' in a tiny NYC apartment 19 years ago? Watch Ailey's Yannick Lebrun perform it in a tiny NYC apartment.

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.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Fabulous Fox Theatre, February 21 - 24, 2019, as part of a 60th Anniversary North American tour, for six breathtaking performances that promise to uplift, unite and enlighten. Ailey's 32 incomparable dancers invite Atlantans to join in a celebration of Mr. Ailey through a variety of works celebrating his life and legacy. The engagement also includes a Family Matinee program on Saturday, February 23 at 2 p.m., which features a post-performance Q&A with the dancers.

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.

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.

HBO salutes Ailey at 60 with a social media video series to launch during Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary New York City Center season November 28 - December 30. This tribute video series will introduce new audiences to the Ailey legacy through moving commentary from music, film, and TV stars - Jussie Smollett, Vanessa Williams, Jillian Hervey, and Black Thought - who share how Ailey has inspired their artistry, impacted American culture, and continues to reach people of all ages backgrounds around the globe.

Last night, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 60th Anniversary holiday season at New York City Center kicked off with a star-studded Opening Night Gala Benefit performance and party led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, with iconic film stars Angela Bassett and Cicely Tyson as honorary chairs. Prudential Financial received the Ailey Legacy Honor for their generous support and commitment to Ailey, especially its education and community programs. The award was presented by Battle and Christopher Taylor, an alumnus of the inaugural AileyCamp Newark (2011) and a current scholarship student at The Ailey School, and accepted by Lata Reddy, Senior Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Impact at Prudential Financial.

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 Today, November 28th at 7pm, complete with a performance for the ages at New York City Center and dinner-party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The gala honors Prudential Financial for its generous support and commitment to Ailey for over three decades, especially its educational and community programs.  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 made history as the first black woman to receive an Honorary Academy Award.

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 dinner-party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The gala honors Prudential Financial for its generous support and commitment to Ailey for over three decades, especially its educational and community programs.  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 made history as the first black woman to receive an Honorary Academy Award.

Juilliard Dance, under the leadership of Alicia Graf Mack, opens its season with New Dances: Edition 2018 featuring four world-premiere dances by innovative choreographers Marcus Jarrell Willis (whose dance features the first-year class); Nelly van Bommel (featuring the second-year class); Juilliard alumnus Peter Chu (featuring the third-year class); and Stefanie Batten Bland (featuring the fourth-year class). Each choreographer works with one of the classes for the semester creating the new work; all Juilliard's dancers participate in the New Dances program.

As part of the Martha Graham Dance Company's popular Studio Series, Graham 2 will perform Martha Graham's beloved masterwork Appalachian Spring (1944). One of Graham's most celebrated works, Appalachian Spring has been called "shining and joyous" and "a testimony to the simple fineness of the human spirit" (The New York Times). The work features Aaron Copland's Pulitzer Prize-winning score and a spare set by Graham's longtime collaborator Isamu Noguchi. Performances are Saturday, December 8, at 1pm (family matinee) with an evening performance at 6pm, and Sunday, December 9, at 2pm. On Saturday evening, the score will be performed live by the International Chamber Orchestra of America directed by Daniel Feng.

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.

Following four sold-out performances of Joshua L. Peugh's Aladdin, Habibi in the Elevator Project at AT&T Performing Arts Center in October, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (which is being featured as WaterTower Theatre's Guest Company in Residence) moves to Addison Theatre Centre-the company's new home theatre for 2019-for a Winter Series featuring three world premieres centering on gay identity in America. The new works will explore gay narratives, themes, and ideas and will be performed by a mostly queer company of dancers. Dark Circles has commissioned budding gay choreographers Mark Caserta, Eoghan Dillon, and Mikey Morado for the program. A new creation by Peugh-in collaboration with queer multimedia artist Brian Kenny-closes the evening. Performances will run January 24 - 27, 2019 at Addison Theatre Centre.

Artistic director/choreographer, Brice Mousset explores the OUI DANSE award- winning first work Travailler in an hour long re-envisioning: WORK! The piece will feature the renowned modern dancer, Christine Dakin. We had an opportunity to catch up with Dakin to learn more about OUI DANSE and her involvement in WORK!, and the career of Brice Mousset.

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.