Kennedy Center for the Arts to Host Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 18th Annual Washington, D.C. Opening Night Gala Benefit

On Tuesday, February 7th, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 18th Annual Washington, D.C. Opening Night Gala Benefit will celebrate the opening of its yearly week-long engagement at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. After the 7pm opening program at the Opera House featuring performances celebrating the birth centennials of jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie and Alvin Ailey's always inspiring masterpieceRevelations, Artistic Director Robert Battle and Ailey's renowned dancers will join guests for dinner and dancing on the Terrace Level of the Kennedy Center.

The evening's premieres and new productions include: Robert Battle's Ella, a tour-de-force duet celebrating Ella Fitzgerald's birth centennial and set to her virtuosic scatting in the song "Airmail Special"; Billy Wilson's The Winter in Lisbon, an energetic, romantic and colorful tribute to the consummate jazz musician on his centenary highlighting four decades of his brilliant music; and Johan Inger's heart-stopping Walking Mad, a daring contemporary take on Maurice Ravel's Boléroimaginatively employing a long, movable wall symbolizing the barriers people construct in their relationships.

The 2017 Opening Night Gala Benefit Co-Chairs include Gina F. Adams, Lyndon K. Boozer, Sela Collins and Debra L. Lee. Gala Vice Chairs are Alaina Beverly, Joyce Brayboy, Kim Sheftall Humphries, Robert Raben, Vanessa Reed, Nicole Venable, Yelberton R. Watkins, and Katharine Weymouth. The evening is made possible by a generous grant from Southern Company and the Corporate Chair is Southern Company Chair, President & CEO, Thomas A. Fanning. The 2017 Opening Night Gala Benefit is produced by Events by André Wells.

Proceeds support Ailey's Washington, D.C. programs, including the creation of new works, arts-in-education activities, and scholarships to talented young dance students in the Washington area to attend The Ailey School in New York. Tickets for the black tie benefit performance and party range from $750 to $1,000 for individual tickets and from $7,500 to $35,000 for a table of 10. For further information, call 202-518-6908, or e-mail bobette@eventsbyandrewells.com.

The Company's seven-performance engagement spotlighting 11 diverse works and four D.C. debuts is part of JFKC: A Centennial Celebration of John F. Kennedy,the Kennedy Center's yearlong programming initiative marking the 100th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's birth and legacy, inspired by five ideals frequently attributed to America's 35th President: Courage, Freedom, Justice, Service, and Gratitude.

Pioneering founder Alvin Ailey's enduring legacy lives on through the expansive vision of Artistic Director Robert Battle, and the company's repertory and international reputation recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World" champions the ideal of freedom, embodying the spirit of President Kennedy's vision for America. In 1962, AAADT was selected by President Kennedy to tour Asia and Australia as part of the Special International Program for Cultural Presentations. The company has a rich history with the Kennedy Center, dating back to the building's grand opening in 1971 with the world premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass choreographed by Alvin Ailey and featuring the Company's members.

Alvin Ailey is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honor, and the Ailey organization was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts and many other honors. For more information on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 19-city coast-to-coast U.S. Tour and Ailey's performances, training and education programs, visit www.alvinailey.org

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