Alvin Ailey Returns to OC
By Stan Jenson
In 1958, a young African-American choreographer assembled a group of dancers for one performance at the 92nd Street Young Men’s Hebrew Association in New York City. Dance opportunities were rare for performers of color — and virtually unheard of for a black choreographer, regardless of talent — but he had a vision to express. Alvin Ailey had no way of knowing that he was sowing the seeds for one of America’s greatest and most enduring artistic treasures. In one night, Ailey and a group of young, black dancers forever changed the perception of American dance, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was born.
Fifty years later, led by Artistic Director Judith Jamison, AAADT has gone on to perform for an estimated 21 million people in 48 states, 71 countries on six continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African-American experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance.
This year, the company celebrates Jamison’s 20th anniversary as artistic director, and the repertoire reflects the commemoration at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The event includes the West Coast premieres of Ronald K. Brown’s “Dancing Spirit,” which pays tribute to Jamison and her “Among Us”; Matthew Rushing’s “Uptown”; and “Best of 20 Years,” program highlights from ballets that Jamison has welcomed to the AAADT repertory. AAADT also will perform a production of “Hymn,” Jamison’s Emmy award-winning homage to Alvin Ailey, and the repertory favorite “Suite Otis” by George W. Faison, with music by Otis Redding. Free-preview talks conducted by AAADT members take place one hour prior to each performance.
As with previous tours, all performances conclude with “Revelations,” choreographed by Ailey and considered to be his most popular and critically acclaimed work. Part of the unwritten job description of being an AAADT dancer includes performing “Revelations” approximately 200 times a year, and audiences cannot get enough of this rousing work. Neither can the dancers, given the number of times the troupe performs it. “It’s not hard to keep ‘Revelations’ fresh because it contains so much,” one dancer has proclaimed. “Whenever I’m in a different place, the piece becomes new to me, and the effect it has on audience members is amazing. In fact, the effect it has on the dancers is also amazing.”
In conjunction with this celebration, the company is offering residencies at Santa Ana High School and Lathrop Intermediate School in Santa Ana, and a master class for Orange County dance students. Utilizing Ailey’s “Revelations,” the program is an inspirational framework for a comprehensive study of language arts, social studies and dance.
Audiences and critics alike continue to be moved and dazzled by the energy, physicality, lyricism, passion and commitment of the AAADT.
AAADT performs from March 2-7 at Segerstrom Hall, located at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Tickets start at $16 and are available at the box office, at (714) 556-2787 or at www.OCPAC.org.