Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Kicks Off 20-City Tour
ON THE MOVE · ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER KICKS OFF 20-CITY U.S. TOUR CELEBRATING JUDITH JAMISON’S 20th ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL ACTIVITIES & SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES AT KENNEDY CENTER · CATCH AILEY II ON TOUR & AT HOME DURING THEIR NEW YORK SEASON · THE AILEY SCHOOL: AWARDS AND ONLINE DOCUMENTARY SERIES · THE AILEY EXTENSION HOSTS FIRST EVER “SPIRIT OF CARNAVAL” WORKSHOP FEATURING BRASILIAN SAMBA, & WELCOMES THE M.E.L.T. METHOD™ SELF-TREATMENT HEALING TECHNIQUE ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER KICKS OFF 20-CITY U.S. TOUR CELEBRATING JUDITH JAMISON’S 20thANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL ACTIVITIES & SOLD-OUT PERFORMANCES AT KENNEDY CENTER Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater just began a 20-city U.S. Tour celebrating 2009 TIME 100 Honoree Judith Jamison’s 20th Anniversary as artistic director, with special activities in Washington, DC and a week of sold-out performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In celebration of Black History Month, on February 1st the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a reception in honor of Ms. Jamison and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Naval Observatory, the Vice-Presidential residence. Guests included members of the Cabinet and Congress, as well as students from the Duke Ellington School for the Arts). February 2nd’s opening night performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House was followed by a gala dinner-dance, attended by Washington, DC Mayor Fenty and 700 guests, benefiting Ailey Arts In Education programs and scholarships to The Ailey School for talented Washington, DC area students. In a review of the opening, The Washington Post wrote that “Ailey, knocking your socks off” is “enjoying a swinging renaissance with [Matthew Rushing’s] Uptown” and that Judith Jamison’s leadership marks “…an extraordinary legacy.” AAADT in Matthew Rushing's Uptown. Photo by Paul Kolnik In tribute to Judith Jamison’s and Alvin Ailey’s artistry and contributions to American culture, The Smithsonian‘s National Museum of American History announces the donation of Judith Jamison’s costume from Alvin Ailey’s The Mooche to the permanent collection in a special ceremony with Smithsonian director Brent D. Glass prior to the Thursday, February 4th performance. Performances over the next month include visits to Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; and Orange County, CA click here for the full schedule >> CATCH AILEY II ON TOUR & AT HOME DURING THEIR NEW YORK SEASON Ailey II in Judith Jamison's Divining. Photo by Eduardo Patino, NYC. Ailey II, the future stars of dance, will conduct master classes and lecture demonstrations for students in addition to performing thrilling repertory in the 17 remaining cities on their North American tour, full schedule here >> The Company returns to their New York April 13- 22, for seven exciting performances at The Joyce Theater as part of the 1.2.3. Festival with ABT II and Taylor 2. New York audiences will see them perform Judith Jamison’s Divining, Carlos dos Santos’ Proximity, Thang Dao’s Echoes and Christopher L. Huggins’ Essence. For more information on Ailey II’s 2010 New York Season click here >> THE AILEY SCHOOL: AWARDS AND ONLINE DOCUMENTARY SERIES Dance Teacher magazine has named The Ailey School’s Horton Pedagogy Demonstration video the video of the year on DanceMedia.com. Led by Horton master teachers Ana Marie Forsythe and Milton Meyers, the video explains the codified technique that influenced Alvin Ailey’s choreography and features demonstrations by Clifton Brown of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and students from The Ailey School. Click here to view the award-winning Horton Pedagogy Demonstration video >> The Ailey School offers over 15 Horton classes a week, and in July, Ana Marie Forsythe will give dance teachers around the world the opportunity to come to The Ailey Studios for an intensive Horton Pedagogy Workshop click here for more information >> Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Junior Marquet K. Lee is one of five young dancers being profiled on Dance (212), The College Years, an online documentary series following dancers in different stages of their college/conservatory careers for an inside look at the real lives of aspiring professional dancers. During the season, viewers can watch Marquet in class at The Ailey School, on campus at Fordham University, and on stage with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center. New episodes premiere every Wednesday for the next several weeks. Watch Dance (212), The College Years Here >> Talented dance students interested in auditioning for The Ailey School can audition during The Ailey School’s nationwide auditions: click here for full schedule >> THE AILEY EXTENSION HOSTS FIRST EVER “SPIRIT OF CARNAVAL” WORKSHOP FEATURING BRASILIAN SAMBA, & WELCOMES THE M.E.L.T. METHOD™ SELF-TREATMENT HEALING TECHNIQUE The Ailey Extension announces A “Spirit of Carnaval” workshop celebrating Brasilian dance and culture on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at The Ailey Studios located at The Joan Weill Center for Dance (405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue). The day-long workshop beginning at 12:30pm features three classes: Samba Drumming with Nick Birmelin, Samba in Platform Heels, and Samba Reggae/Samba DaBahia with Quenia Ribeiro, where participants will explore the different styles of dance and rhythms of Brasilian Carnaval, from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador, Bahia. Also, new to The Ailey Extension is M.E.L.T. ™, a self-treatment technique using foam rollers that helps prevent pain, heal injury, and erase the negative effects of aging and active living; now offered Mondays and Fridays from 9:15-10:15am, and Saturdays from 12:35-1:25pm. LX New York recently visited The Ailey Extension for a hip-shaking Zumba workout and heart-pumping Capoeira class. Click here for The Ailey Extension full schedule of classes >>
