Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, will return to the Detroit Opera House this March Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, the passionate spirit and extraordinary technique of Ailey’s dancers will be showcased in a diverse repertory of new works and Ailey classics.
Performances of Alvin Ailey’s must-see American masterpiece Revelations will inspire Detroit attendees at all performances. Since its creation in 1960, Revelations has been seen
by more people around the world than any other modern dance work, moving audiences with its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope, and transcendence. Springing from Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the south and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African American and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition.
“Detroit audiences eagerly await the return of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the leadership of the company’s Artistic Director, Robert Battle,” says Detroit Opera President & CEO Wayne S. Brown. “The upcoming residency marks the fourteenth occasion since the 1997–98 season that our organization has presented this outstanding company. Join us!”
On Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m., Detroit audiences will have the unique opportunity to experience acclaimed choreographer Kyle Abraham’s Are You in Your Feelings?, a celebration of Black culture, Black music, and the youthful spirit that perseveres in us all. Scored to a “mixtape” of soul, hip-hop, and R&B featuring music from beloved artists including Jhené Aiko, Drake, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar, Jazmine Sullivan, and Summer Walker, the critically applauded work explores the connections among music, communication, and personal memory. That same night, Twyla Tharp’s silky and sultry Roy’s Joys (1997), embodying the spontaneity of a 1940s and 50s jazz soundtrack by Roy Eldridge, will also take the stage. Mixing vernacular dance with ballet and modern technique, Roy’s Joys exudes an easy, carefree energy that shows Tharp at her rollicking best.
“The amazing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Opera House after a three-year absence,” says Jon Teeuwissen, Detroit Opera’s Artistic Advisor for Dance. “The program of mixed repertoire will include two new works and conclude with the ever popular and always enduring Revelations. A cultural treasure beloved by generations of fans, Revelations ‘fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul.’”
For tickets, visit detroitopera.org
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