Ailey II at Touhill Performing Arts Center

DIRECT FROM NEW YORK CITY...

“The dancers in Ailey II are spectacular beings” – The New York Times

Back by popular demand, Ailey II brings their “off-the-charts-energy” (The New Yorker) to St. Louis, returning to Touhill where the company sold out months in advance the last time they were presented by Dance St. Louis.

Ailey II has flourished into one of the most popular dance companies in the country, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. The company is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with the passion and artistry of today’s most outstanding choreographers.

Founded in 1974, Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission, and under the leadership of Artistic Director Francesca Harper the company continues to thrive. The Los Angeles Times hails the dancers as “indefatigable, virtuosic and relentlessly sexy." Dance Magazine calls Ailey II "second to none" and The New York Times declares "There's nothing like an evening spent with Ailey II, the younger version of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater." "Highbrow/Brilliant" says New York Magazine.

The renowned ensemble of rising stars will bring St. Louis audiences to their feet at the Touhill, performing works by emerging and established choreographers.

6:30 p.m. - Free “Speaking of Dance” pre-show talk with representatives from Ailey II (Terrace Lobby)
7:30 p.m. - Performance (A-B Performance Hall)

(PHOTO: Ailey II's A. Jordan, T. Strickland, M. van den Heuvel in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Nir Arieli.)