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JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH –
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
RETURNS TO DETROIT FOR FIVE INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 3, 2008
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VISIT TO INCLUDE PERFORMANCES IN DETROIT-AREA SCHOOLS JANUARY 7-11, 2008
DETROIT, Michigan, January 2, 2008…Hailed as one of America’s most electrifying dance companies and always a favorite of Detroit audiences, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Detroit Opera House stage for five incredible performances, Jan. 31 – Feb. 3, 2008. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2008 Detroit appearances are a “must-see” for dance enthusiasts and novices alike.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which last appeared at the Detroit Opera House in 2006, will present a special mix-repertory program as part of the 2007-08 Chrysler Foundation Dance Series. The program will vary by performance, and will include works by notable choreographers including Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, Judith Jamison, Rennie Harris, Talley Beatty and Maurice Bejart, set to music ranging from Janis Joplin and Pink Floyd to Stevie Wonder to Igor Stravinsky and Yo Yo Ma. The 2008 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Detroit presentations are made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts.
The highlight of the Detroit tour will include the Ailey classic Revelations, an Alvin Ailey favorite that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of African-Americans. Choreographed by Alvin Ailey himself, the enduring classic is a tribute to Alvin Ailey’s choreographic mastery. Set to African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, the work fervently explores the soulful places of deepest grief and holiest joy. Revelations will be performed at each program.
New this year to the Alvin Ailey repertory is Tally Beatty’s The Road of the Phoebe Snow. Originally performed in 1959, this new production by Masazumi Chaya makes its debut in Detroit in this exclusive performance at the Detroit Opera House. Set to music by Duke Ellington, The Road of the Phoebe Snow is a narrative that chronicles the existence of young people who live near the railroad tracks of an American city. The Road of the Phoebe Snow will be performed as part of the program opening night, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Flowers, choreographed in 1971 by Alvin Ailey, is an Ailey classic performed as part of the Detroit repertory. Inspired by the life of Janis Joplin, Flowers is set to music by Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd and Blind Faith. More than 30 years after its premiere, it remains a poignant, dramatic chronicle of one woman’s rise and fall as well as a timely statement on the price of fame. Flowers will be performed as part of the program on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 8 p.m.
The Firebird is a classic ballet set to the music of Igor Stravinsky, but Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is the first American company to perform the complete work choreographed by Maurice Bejart, when they add the Ailey magic to the radiant grandeur of his famous ballet. This Firebird reinterprets the traditional fairytale as an allegory of revolution, idealism and rebirth. The Firebird will be performed opening night, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Saddle Up! is an eclectic mix of Wild West characters set to music by Yo Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor with choreography by Fredrick Earl Mosley. This exuberant hoedown reflects the joy and romance of Mark O’Connor’s “Appalachian Journey” compositions, and showcases the Ailey artists’ theatricality and flawless technical prowess. Saddle Up! will be performed Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 at 2 p.m.
What do you get when you mix Twyla Tharp’s high-octane choreography with powerful, fearless Ailey dancers? The Golden Section. Set to a sizzling, propulsive score by David Byrne, the work shatters the limits of human physicality with breathtaking leaps, finely-honed partnering and explosive joy. The Golden Section will be performed Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 at 2 p.m.
Judith Jamison’s dynamic collaboration with hip-hop pioneer Rennie Harris and modern dance maverick Robert Battle lead to the birth of Love Stories. Set to music by Stevie Wonder, the work was inspired by the word “Sankofa,” a word in the Akan language of Ghana that means “go back” (Sanko) and “take” (fa). Love Stories will be performed Friday, Feb. 1, 2008 at 8 p.m.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers will also be in Detroit January 7-11, 2008 to perform short lectures and programs for kids in Detroit-Area schools. Ailey dancers will visit Cranbrook schools in Bloomfield Hills, University Preparatory Academy, Golightly Education Center, Joyce Elementary School, Cass Tech High School, Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music and Art, and Friends School in Detroit, Southfield Lathrup High School, Farmington Harrison High School, and McIntyre Elementary School in Southfield.
A special master class led by members of Alvin Ailey will be held on Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the 5th Floor Dance Studio of the Ford Center for Arts and Learning at the Detroit Opera House. The master class will be open for students of intermediate and advanced modern dance, and the class costs $15 per person. Call Carol Halsted, Director of Dance for more information or to register at (313) 237-3426.
About Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Founded in 1958 by dance pioneer Alvin Ailey, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is renowned for their expansive repertory, extensive touring schedules and community outreach efforts, as well as their masterful artistry. In the nearly 50 years since its founding, the company has grown from a small, mostly black company into a large, multi-racial institution, fulfilling Ailey’s dream to “touch everyone’s heart through dance.”
Under the leadership of Judith Jamison, Artistic Director since 1989, and Masazumi Chaya, Associate Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has furthered its legacy as an American institution, performing works by many of the world’s leading choreographers, and packing houses in cities around the globe. Unrivaled artistry and masterful technique are hallmarks of this exceptional company.
Tickets for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater range from $23-$73 and are available in person at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464), or online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (248) 645-6666 and online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Thursday, January 31, 20087:30 p.m.
Friday, February 1, 20088:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 2, 20082:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 2, 20088:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 3, 20082:00 p.m.
At the magnificent Detroit Opera House
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