Pioneers of contemporary dance return with two electrifying programmes

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the company that defines artistic excellence and Black cultural legacy, returns to London under the leadership of new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack. Nearly seven decades after its founding, Ailey continues to propel dance in exhilarating new directions – pushing the boundaries of what the human body can do and what the human spirit can achieve.

Two different programmes showcase the best of the company’s repertory. The Legacy Programme presents classics by Alvin Ailey including the jazz-infused Night Creature; the lyrical, yearning A Song For You; and an excerpt of the transcendent solo Cry. This programme also features Ronald K. Brown’s spellbinding Grace, a rapturous blend of modern and West African dance.

The New Works programme highlights creations by some of the most respected contemporary choreographers, including Medhi Walerski’s intriguing Blink of an Eye; Lar Lubovitch’s ethereal Many Angels; Jamar Roberts’ meditative Song of the Anchorite; and Judith Jamison’s sensual duet A Case of You.

Both programmes conclude with Alvin Ailey’s iconic Revelations, the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy. Since its premiere in 1960, Revelations has been performed continuously around the globe, making it the most widely seen modern dance work in the world.

Header image description: A black female dancer is captured mid-leap. She has one leg held out straight and one leg bent underneath her, her toes are pointed. Her arms are held in a strong pose to her left side and her face is determined. Her long hair is loose, and she wears a flowing blue silk slip dress. She is lit by spotlights overheard and the background is black.

Header image Caroline T. Dartey © Andrew Eccles