The work of former Parsons Dance Company member Robert Battle, is being featured as part of the program and we couldn’t be more excited!

Robert Battle has accomplished a lot since his days with Parsons Dance. The Julliard alumnus founded his own Battleworks Dance Company in 2001, before taking the reins as artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2011–all before the age of 43. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has long been a conduit of expression for the African-American cultural experience through modern dance.

Battle is a talented dancer, an accomplished artistic director, and in the midst of all his responsibilities running a prestigious dance company, he is still a highly sought after choreographer. #WERK

His choreography has earned him the title “Master of African-American Choreography” by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2005 and the Princess Grace Statue Award. After touring the world with Battleworks, his choreography has made a home with many companies, such as Ballet Memphis, Hubbard Street Repertory Ensemble, and River North Chicago Dance Company. 

Battle’s abstract, energetic, and forward moving Train was created for River North Chicago Dance Company in 2008. Those of us in New York know a couple of things about trains. I don’t know about y’all, but one of my goals is to stop worrying about what I can’t control… AKA the Metropolitan Transit Authority and their faulty trains. We’re hoping Battle’s choreography will give a brand new energy and raw excitement to our daily commute in 2016.

Train will be part of programs A and B at Joyce Theater.

Program A: Jan 20 at 7:30pm; Jan 21 at 8pm; Jan 22 at 8pm; Jan 23 at 8pm; Jan 24 at 7:30pm; Jan 26 at 7:30pm; Jan 27 at 7:30pm; Jan 28 at 8pm; Jan 29 at 8pm; Jan 30 at 8pm; Jan 31 at 7:30pm Finding Center, Union, Train, Almah, Caught, Nascimento

Program B: Jan 23 at 2pm; Jan 24 at 2pm; Jan 30 at 2pm; Jan 31 at 2pm Almah, Hand Dance, Train, Caught, Whilaway

The post Robert Battle’s Train to Make NYC Premiere at Joyce Theater appeared first on Broadway Black.

“Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater last visited Johannesburg in 1998 and we are delighted to welcome back this iconic dance company for a groundbreaking return,” says Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management.

Time Magazine remarked that “The Ailey company’s tour leaves South Africa dancing in the aisles.”  The Today Show says the dance theatre is, “Unbelievable. Go see Alvin Ailey. It’s change-your-life good,” and The Miami Herald  declares it is “… a distinctive profile – theatrical, energetic, heartfelt with powerhouse dancers – that has helped make it the most successful and widely seen modern dance company in the world.”

Artistic Director Robert Battle said, “Extending the Ailey company’s five decades of far-reaching international tours, and memorable visits to South Africa, I’m proud to lead the Company back to this continent for the first time this century.  Mr. Ailey said it so well; ‘Dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people.’ I’m excited for audiences to share in uplifting performances, and for students to experience life-changing interactions with the world’s most amazing dancers.”

“I know that South African audiences will be transfixed and inspired by the company’s performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as the fantastic educational outreach programs that the group is planning during their visit,” stated United States Ambassador to South Africa Patrick H. Gaspard. “Receiving the Ailey company in South Africa in September will truly be a highlight of my tenure as Ambassador.”

The shows will show a mix of new dance pieces, but each performance will end with the theatre’s signature piece, Revelations.

Check out some of the stunning images and videos from the tour below!

“The only photograph I had preconceived before coming to South Africa was to shoot one or more of Ailey’s dancers with an Elephant. I’ve lived with a reproduction of Avedon’s ‘Dovima with Elephants’ framed on my wall for most of my life and although nothing could equal the serenity and power of that image I wanted to have my day in the (African) sun finding my own interpretation. Yesterday I got the opportunity. This image is of Jamar Roberts (@gibberishdance) effortlessly lifting Jacqueline Green (@jagreen711) over his head with one arm while “Three” mother of two looks on. Glen Afric Lodge, 40 minutes outside of Johannesburg.” #instaAILEY #AlvinAileySA [photo by Andrew @Eccles]

A photo posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 11, 2015 at 3:09pm PDT

the men of #ALVINAILEY in Ronald K. Brown’s “Grace” Thanks for a fantastic two weeks Joburg! Off to Cape Town in the AM! #instaAILEY #AILEYinSA #AlvinAileySA

A video posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 13, 2015 at 7:11pm PDT

Yannick Lebrun strikes an appropriate pose from Asadata Dafora’s Awassa Astrige/Osterich. “With each step, his supple spine curved forward by a foot, mimicking a bird’s serpentine neck. When he squatted down in a deep, second-position plie, going up on his toes and holding the pose for 10 thigh-burning seconds, the crowd went crazy.” – The Washington Post Glen Afric, 40 minutes outside of Johannesburg #instaAILEY #AlvinAileySA #birdsofafeather [ by Andrew @Eccles]

A photo posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 12, 2015 at 4:16pm PDT

giving every bit of everything he had left, #ALVINAILEY dancer Michael Jackson, Jr. (@mikejackjr) bared his soul to the Johannesburg audience today in Rennie Harris’s ‘Exodus’ #instaAILEY #goforbroke #AlvinAileySA

A video posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 12, 2015 at 4:12pm PDT

#REPOST from photographer Andrew @Eccles ・・・ Although we’re now in CapeTown I’m still processing photos we took in Johannesburg. These are of Hope Boykin (@hbdance) who joined #ALVINAILEY in 2000. Equal parts spiritual and intellectual, Hope is a powerful dancer that performs with as much emotion as she does strength. She embodies integrity. It made sense to work with her in front of the iconic Orlando Towers in Soweto (abbreviation for South Western Townships). We had been given an extremely moving tour of the Apartheid Museum that morning by John Kani and Hope may have drawn from that to help fuel these photos. There are more to come of other dancers from this session. Soweto, Johannesburg. #instaAILEY #AlvinAileySA

A photo posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 16, 2015 at 3:36am PDT

#REPOST from photographer Andrew @Eccles ・・・ Choosing which dancers to photograph in front of #NelsonMandela’s 30 foot tall bronze statue outside of the Union Building in Pretoria was simple. Linda Celeste Sims joined the company in 1996 and her now husband of 15 years Glenn Allen Sims joined in 1997. They married on January 5th, 2001, the date of #ALVINAILEY’s birth and I’ve been fortunate enough to have collaborated with them a great deal over the past two decades. Here they are recreating a pose from Festa Barocca. I have always thought that Glenn and Linda were the rock of the company. The fact that they’re married and do this incredible thing together is an inspiration to us all. To me they represent #love, #beauty, #art and #commitment. In this photograph they symbolize strength, struggle, and sacrifice. The 3.5 ton likeness behind them depicts Mandela with “outstretched arms and open hands as if to embrace the entire nation”. The statue was unveiled in 2013 shortly after his death. #AlvinAileySA #instaAILEY #AILEYinSA #relationshipgoals

A photo posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 9, 2015 at 1:46pm PDT

#fbf with #ALVINAILEY dancers Akua Noni Parker (@onlyupward), Michael Jackson Jr (@mikejackjr) and giraffe, Gauteng. #instaAILEY #AlvinAileySA #AILEYinSA [photo by Andrew @eccles]

A photo posted by Alvin Ailey (@alvinailey) on Sep 11, 2015 at 9:01am PDT

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This is a rare opportunity to see performances on such a large scale. In particular, Revelations, a masterpiece of American dance and described by “The New York Times” as “one of the great works of the human spirit,” will be showcased.  The iconic dance performance is backed by African American spirituals, sermons, gospel songs, and blues, and is truly a must see for even the most casual of art appreciators.  In addition, not only is this is an affordable way for people throughout the country to  see the company perform, it allows viewers to see Ailey literally larger than life, which is the way the performances typically feel when watching them on stage.

In addition to “Revelations,” the electrifying program will include Wayne McGregor’s “Chroma,” set to music scored by Joby Talbot with orchestrations of songs by The White Stripes; Ronald K. Brown’s “Grace,” which combines modern and West African dance accompanied by Duke Ellington, Roy Davis, and Fela Kuti‘s music, and closing with Robert Battle’s “Takademe.”

This showing is one night only, and pre-sale tickets are available now.

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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 with a mission to bring African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world. This mission was first carried out with the creation of Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations, in 1960. A school was established in 1969 and the following year, both school and company found a home in Manhattan. In the years to come, the company gained national and international acclaim as the ensemble grew and Ailey collaborated with the Metropolitan Opera (Carmen) in 1972, performed at the Duke Ellington Festival at Lincoln Center with the Ellington Orchestra in 1975, and performed for President Carter at the White House in 1978. In 1987, Alvin Ailey received modern dance’s greatest honor, the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award

The following year, he was the recipient of The Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts. Shortly before Ailey’s untimely death in 1989, Judith Jamison, a company member since 1965, was named Artistic Director. Jamison continued to take the company further causing Dance Magazine to call the Ailey company “recession-proof” due to its worldwide success in 1992. Under her leadership, the company has continued to tour all over the world and dancers from all over the world have come to study at the Ailey School. In 2011, Jamison became Artistic Director Emerita and choreographer Robert Battle became the active Artistic Director, continuing a legacy of dance that has become vital in the artistic fabric of America.

Check out Alvin Ailey’s REVELATIONS below!

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform at Lincoln Center at the David H. Koch Theater June 10-21.
For tickets and more information, visit www.alvinailey.org

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