Robert Battle News

New York City Center is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Fall for Dance Festival with a very special season, beginning with two free evenings of dance at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, hosted by The Public Theater, on September 16 and 17 (rain date, September 18). The Festival will continue at City Center from September 25 - October 5 with performances by 20 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, including three new works from today's most exciting young choreographers, commissioned by New York City Center in celebration of the tenth anniversary.

The summer theater scene in New York City is about to get "blended." Beginning Tuesday, July 30, and running through Aug. 4, the Summer Shares at La MaMa Experimental Threatre will host the New York City premier of The Blender: Eight Short Plays in the Mix. La MaMa is one of New York City's most acclaimed off-Broadway theaters.

Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, opens its 2013-2014 season with New Dances PLUS: Edition 2013, Wednesday, December 11 through Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater and features Juilliard alumna Pina Bausch's Wind von West (Wind from the West) performed by the Senior Class, plus three world premiere commissions created for each of the classes of Juilliard's Dance Division. Next season's innovative choreographers are Juilliard alumnus Takehiro Ueyama (1st Year Dancers); Brian Brooks (2nd Year Dancers); and Juilliard alumnus Darrell Grand Moultrie (3rd Year Dancers).

Internationally recognized dance companies and fast-rising choreographers shared the picturesque stage of the 19th annual edition of Fire Island Dance Festival on July 19-21, raising a record $393,647 for Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. For the third year in a row the festival set a fundraising record, surpassing last year's all-time high of $374,260. In its 19 editions, Fire Island Dance Festival has raised $3.3 million for the most vulnerable among us, helping to ensure they receive life-saving medications and health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies and New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, will return to the New York City Center stage for the 42nd consecutive year from December 4, 2013 - January 5, 2014with exciting performances that have become a joyous holiday tradition.

This weekend is the fabulous - Fire Island Dance Festival today, July 19 -Sunday the 21st featuring more than 40 dancers from world-class dance companies. Wildly entertaining humorist and actor Mo Rocca returns this summer for a second turn as host of Fire Island Dance Festival, the most-anticipated charity event to land on the shores of the Great South Bay. It is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The 19th edition includes a stunningly varied program spanning Broadway to ballet, performed outdoors at a landmark bay-front home. Tickets are still available.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies and New York City Center's Principal Dance Company, will return to the New York City Center stage for the 42nd consecutive year from December 4, 2013 - January 5, 2014 with exciting performances that have become a joyous holiday tradition.

AileyCamp, the innovative full-scholarship day camp celebrating its 25th year, will provide life-changing and meaningful experiences to students in eight cities across the United States this summer. This inspiring program uses the art of dance as a means to stretch the mind, body, and spirit of approximately 800 inner-city students.

Princess Grace Foundation Founding Trustee Lynn Wyatt visited with Cicely Tyson after a recent performance of The Trip to Bountiful. The play features the talents of Princess Grace Awards winners Michael Wilson (director) and Rui Rita (lighting design). Scroll down for a photo of Tyson and Wyatt!

On June 12, 2013, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular dance companies, kicked off its seven performance engagement at the David H. Koch Theater. The performance marked the Company's historic return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for the first time in over a decade and its first engagement there led by Artistic Director Robert Battle. Scroll down for photos from the opening festivities!

Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, opens its 2013-2014 season with New Dances PLUS: Edition 2013, Wednesday, December 11 through Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater and features Juilliard alumna Pina Bausch's Wind von West (Wind from the West) performed by the Senior Class, plus three world premiere commissions created for each of the classes of Juilliard's Dance Division. Next season's innovative choreographers are Juilliard alumnus Takehiro Ueyama (1st Year Dancers); Brian Brooks (2nd Year Dancers); and Juilliard alumnus Darrell Grand Moultrie (3rdYear Dancers).

Yesterday, at an event hosted at The Ailey Studios, Dance/NYC launched a new visibility campaign, New Yorkers for Dance. By moving the dance community and those who care about the future of the art form to offer personal video messages ('I am a New Yorker for Dance because...'), the campaign strengthens the collective voice for dance, draws attention and resources to dance artists and companies (1,200+), and lifts the field as whole.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle has announced casting for the Company's return to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at the David H. Koch Theater from June 12-16, 2013. He has also invited three new dancers to join and perform with the acclaimed 30 member Company during the seven-performance engagement.

The Chicago Dancing Festival has announced the programming schedule for its seventh season. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, this 'Free-to-All' Festival is set to take place August 20 - 24, featuring top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country.

Dance Currents, Inc. is presenting the third in their series of Sunday afternoon concerts of Dance and Music at Green Street Studios, 185 Green Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts today, May 12 at 2pm.

On May 7th, Ailey returned to Harlem's world-famous Apollo Theater for a one-night-only event which featured performances by the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, rising stars of Ailey II, gifted young dancers from The Ailey School, and talented students from AileyCamp Washington Heights and Newark. Ailey's 2013 Spring Gala marked the first time all tiers of the organization have come together to perform on one stage. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Dance Currents, Inc. is presenting the third in their series of Sunday afternoon concerts of Dance and Music at Green Street Studios, 185 Green Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sunday, May 12 at 2pm.

Dance Currents Inc. is presenting "Charge the Air" on Sunday, May 12, 2pm at Green Street Studios. This concert is the third in our series of Sunday afternoon performances, and will feature live music by Yuji Kano, flutist, Mason Morton, harp, Johanan Chendler, violin and Victoria Tzotzkova, piano as well as two new dances, one by emerging choreographer Ali Smith, and one by Kathy Hassinger. Dance Currents dancers Jennifer Burpee, Whitney Cover, Sarah Josselyn, Lauren Previte, Kai Sherman and Ali Smith will be performing as well as dancers from Across the Ages Dance: Eleanor Duckworth, Eliza Mallouk, Marcie Mitler, Jackie Flynn, Sara Lapery, and Alison Ryan.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world's most popular dance companies, brings its 21-city U.S. tour to the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert for one performance tonight, April 11 at 8:00pm. Following record-breaking performances in New York City that brought full houses to their feet, Ailey's second season led by Artistic Director Robert Battle is thrilling audiences in major cities across the country. Artistic Director Robert Battle continues to surprise and delight audiences with premieres and new productions that expand his vision for the company, adding dynamic choreographic voices to the repertory that give Ailey's extraordinary artists new ways to inspire.

For the first time ever, the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be joined by rising stars of Ailey II, gifted young dancers from The Ailey School, and talented students from AileyCamp in a spectacular Ailey At The Apollo performance on Tuesday, May 7th at 7pm. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the Spring Gala Benefit performance will take place on the world famous Apollo Theater stage. A gala party with festive dress, decor and dancing to music by the famed DJ Kiss will follow the one-night-only performance.