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THE JOYCE THEATER PRESENTS
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
AT BAM
AILEY’S FIRST RETURN TO BAM IN OVER 35 YEARS
WITH
TWO MAGNIFICENT PROGRAMS FEATURING SUCH AAADT CLASSICS AS
MASEKELA LANGAGE, REVELATIONS
AND
THE JOYCE COMMISSIONED THE GROOVE TO NOBODY’S BUSINESS
JUNE 3 – 8, 2008
In an unprecedented and highly anticipated collaboration, The Joyce Theater will present Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) at BAM with two exhilarating programs, from June 3 – 8, 2008 . This not-to-be-missed celebratory season, AAADT’s first return to BAM in over 35 years, will take place in the Howard Gilman Opera House ( 30 Lafayette Avenue ) . Tickets for The Joyce Theater presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at BAM range from $20-$70 and can be purchased at BAM.org or by calling (718) 636-4100.
A momentous year for both organizations, AAADT celebrates its 50 th anniversary and The Joyce Theater continues its 25 th Anniversary commemoration reaching into communities near and far with this season at BAM. Led by the celebrated Artistic Director Judith Jamison, AAADT will showcase the tremendous breadth and range of their repertoire in these two exciting programs. The “Classic Ailey” program, dedicated to Alvin Ailey’s choreography, will feature the long-awaited return of Masekela Langage, the rarely seen masterpiece which made its NYC premiere during Ailey’s first season at BAM in 1969 is being revived for the 50 th Anniversary, and the incomparable Revelations, a galvanizing tour de force celebrating African-American cultural heritage that ranks as one of modern dance’s most affecting works. Ailey’s Night Creature and Pas de Duke, both longtime audience favorites, will complete the program. The “Best Of” program includes Twyla Tharp’s breathtaking The Golden Section, Robert Battle’s stirring duet Unfold and The Groove To Nobody’s Business, commissioned in part through The Joyce Theater’s 25 th anniversary grants. This piece, by emerging choreographer Camille A. Brown, created great excitement upon its premiere during AAADT’s 2007 season. This program will also conclude with Revelations.
Speaking of this unique partnership, Linda Shelton, Executive Director of The Joyce Theater said, “The Joyce Theater is delighted to celebrate its 25 th anniversary and have this opportunity to build capacity by presenting the incredible Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the world renowned Brooklyn Academy of Music. Working in partnership with these two impressive organizations will further enhance The Joyce's reputation as a major presenter of dance as we bring this wonderful company to Brooklyn for the first time in over 35 years. Without the visionary support of Altria Group, Inc., this historic collaboration would never have been possible.”
“The Ailey organization is excited to be forging a new partnership with two other respected cultural icons - The Joyce Theater and Brooklyn Academy of Music. As we begin Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 50 th anniversary celebration, a spring season at BAM is especially significant - and a wonderful opportunity to share Ailey’s inspiring legacy with new audiences,” said Sharon Gerstem Luckman, Executive Director of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.
Karen Brooks Hopkins , president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, said, “BAM is pleased to partner with The Joyce Theater and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in this significant collaboration. The Joyce Theater is a New York cultural gem and what could be better then to launch this partnership with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—a company that has a profound historic connection to BAM.”
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), America ’s Cultural Ambassador to the World, grew from a now fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Today, led by Artistic Director, Judith Jamison, AAADT has performed for an estimated 21 million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on 6 continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa , promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance. Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. is the umbrella organization which includes AAADT; Ailey II (1974) a junior performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School, (1969) one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs which brings dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people of all ages; and The Ailey Extension, dance and fitness classes for the general public.
The mission of The Joyce Theater is to advance the art of dance and choreography in all its richness and variety and to encourage, sustain, and educate a diverse audience. The Joyce serves a broad-based national and international dance community, and oversees two of New York City ’s leading dance venues: The Joyce Theater, an affordable, 472-seat, state-of-the-art theater in Chelsea; and Joyce SoHo, a dance center that offers three fully equipped studios at highly subsidized rates for rehearsals and performances to independent choreographers and nonprofit dance companies.
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is recognized internationally for its innovative programming of dance, music, theater, music-theater, opera, and film. BAM presents leading national and international artists and companies in its annual Spring Season and highlights groundbreaking, contemporary work in the performing arts with its Next Wave Festival each fall. Founded in 1983, the Next Wave is one of the world's most important festivals of contemporary performing arts. BAM Rose Cinemas features new, independent film releases and BAMcinématek – a curated, daily repertory film program. BAM, America 's oldest performing arts center in continuous operation, has presented performances since 1861, and attracts an audience of more than 450,000 people each year. The institution is led by President Karen Brooks Hopkins and Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo —each of whom has been associated with BAM for more than 25 years.
The Joyce Theater presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaterat BAM from June 3 – 8 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House ( 30 Lafayette Avenue ) . Tickets range from $20-$70 and can be purchased at BAM.org or by calling (718) 636-4100. For Group Sales rates contact (212) 691-9740 ext. 410. Program A: “Classic Ailey” June 3 & 6 at 7:30pm ; June 8 at 3pm & 7:30pm ; Program B: “Best Of” June 4 & 5 at 7:30pm; June 7 at 2pm & 7:30pm . A Q&A with Judith Jamison & Camille A. Brown (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) moderated by choreographer Ronald K. Brown will follow the June 5 performance (free for same-day ticket holders). For more information, visit www.Joyce.org; www.AlvinAiley.org; or www.BAM.org.
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The Joyce Theater presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaterat BAM
Schedule
Tuesday, June 3 PROGRAM A / CLASSIC AILEY 7:30pm
Wednesday, June 4 PROGRAM B / BEST OF 7:30pm
Thursday, June 5 PROGRAM B / BEST OF 7:30pm *
Friday, June 6 PROGRAM A / CLASSIC AILEY 7:30pm
Saturday, June 7 PROGRAM B / BEST OF 2:00pm
Saturday, June 7 PROGRAM B / BEST OF 7:30pm
Sunday, June 8 PROGRAM A / CLASSIC AILEY 3:00pm
Sunday, June 8 PROGRAM A / CLASSIC AILEY 7:30pm
* A Q&A with Judith Jamison & Camille A. Brown (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) moderated by choreographer Ronald K. Brown will follow the June 5 performance (free for same-day ticket holders).
PROGRAM A: CLASSIC AILEY
Masekela Langage (1969)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey; Music by Hugh Masekela
Masekela Langage , a rarely-seen Ailey masterpiece, which premiered during Ailey’s first season at BAM in 1969, fittingly will be revived for Ailey’s return to BAM during the Company’s 50 th anniversary. Set in a shebeen (a South African beer house) and danced to the driving score of South African jazz composer and trumpeter Hugh Masekela, Ailey’s choreography speaks of passivity, militancy, despair and defiance in a searing portrait of oppression during the apartheid era, drawing parallels between events in South Africa and those in Chicago .
Revelations (1960)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey; Music: Traditional Spirituals
Alvin Ailey said that one of America ’s richest treasures was the cultural heritage of the African-American - “Sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful.” This enduring classic is a tribute to that heritage and to Ailey’s genius. Using African-American religious music - spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues - this suite fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul.
Night Creature (1975)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey; Music: Duke Ellington
"Night creatures, unlike stars, do not come OUT at night-they come ON, each thinking that before the night is out he or she will be the star" - Duke Ellington
One of Alvin Ailey's most classically choreographed ballets juxtaposed within Ellington's jazz idiom-the dance captivates with Ailey's sexy nocturnal rituals that propel the movement into a fast paced climactic catharsis. Duke Ellington first composed the phenomenal "Suite For Orchestra" in 1955, later adding the second and third movements in 1963. Night Creature is the definitive Ailey homage to the exuberance of The Duke's jazz.
Pas de Duke (1976)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey; Music: Duke Ellington
Originally created as a showcase for Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov, Pas de Duke is Alvin Ailey’s modern-dance translation of a classical pas de deux, celebrating the musical genius of Duke Ellington. Ailey’s choreography brilliantly captures the exuberance of the dancers’ star qualities and techniques as the duo mirror each other toe-to-toe and line-for-line in this playful, jazzy dance. The New York Times praised the work as “one of those special dances that lives in new ways with each new set of performers.”
PROGRAM B: BEST OF
Unfold (2005)
Choreography: Robert Battle; Music: Gustave Charpentier, sung by Leontyne Price
This duet was dubbed “a highlight” by Dance Magazine at its premiere in 2005. Previously, Robert Battle choreography has been seen in two works in the repertory of both Ailey II and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
The Groove To Nobody’s Business (2008)
Choreography: Camille A. Brown; Music: Ray Charles and original compositions by Brandon McCune
Camille A . Brown, formerly of Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, has choreographed a new work that explores the relationships that develop among strangers waiting for a subway train. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was awarded a commissioning grant by The Joyce Theater for the creation of this work by Ms. Brown, a recognized emerging choreographer called “one to watch” by Dance Magazine.
The Golden Section (1983)
Choreography: Twyla Tharp; Music: David Byrne
The Golden Section by Tony Award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp sizzles like never before when performed by the fearless Ailey dancers. Set to a propulsive score by David Byrne, The Golden Section shatters the limits of human physicality with breathtaking leaps, finely-honed partnering and explosive joy. It is “dancing of astonishing beauty and power,” raved The New Yorker.
Revelations (1960)
See above
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Major support for this presentation was provided by Altria Group, Inc.
Additional support, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and by The Harkness Foundation for Dance.
Leadership support for The Joyce Theater’s 2007–2008 Season has been received from the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust. Additional support provided, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Major support was received from Carnegie Corporation of New York, First Republic Bank, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Shubert Foundation and The Starr Foundation.
General Information
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas , BAMcafé, and Brownstone Books at BAM are located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place ) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn . BAM Harvey Theater is located two blocks from the main building at 651 Fulton Street (between Ashland and Rockwell Places). BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn ’s only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. BAMcafé, operated by Great Performances, is open for dining prior to Howard Gilman Opera House performances. BAMcafé also features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music for BAMcafé Live nights on Friday and Saturday with a special BAMcafé Live menu available starting at 8pm .
Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue;
D, M, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue
Train: Long Island Railroad to Flatbush Avenue
Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM
Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM
For ticket and BAMbus information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.