Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation is the umbrella organization that supports the activities of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, The Ailey School, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs and The Ailey Extension.
AADF’s mission is to further the pioneering work of Alvin Ailey by establishing an extended cultural community which provides dance performances, training and community programs for all people.
This performing arts community plays a crucial social role using the beauty and humanity of the African-American heritage and other cultures to unite people of all races, ages and backgrounds.
[book id='17' /]
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
NOVEMBER 16 – 19, 2011
AMERICA’S CULTURAL AMBASSADOR CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF REVELATIONS
IN FIRST ENGAGEMENT AT KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
LED BY ROBERT BATTLE IN FIRST SEASON AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, AILEY’S EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS SHARE PREMIERES, NEW PRODUCTIONS AND REPERTORY FAVORITES IN 5 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle in his inaugural season, Ailey’s extraordinary artists moved audiences in three different programs with a mix of premieres, new productions and repertory favorites featuring Alvin Ailey’s beloved Revelations ~ the timeless classic beloved by people around the world with universal themes that illustrate the strength and humanity within all of us.
Among the Company’s premieres in Kansas City were Christopher L. Huggins’ Anointed, a tribute to Ailey’s past, present and future, featuring the music of Moby and Sean Clements and The Evolution Of A Secured Feminine, Camille A. Brown’s witty exploration of the notions of femininity – a solo that was previously only performed by Ms. Brown herself.
The Company also introduced works by Robert Battle, including The Hunt, an explosive tour-de-force for six men that runs the gamut from modern sports to the rituals of the gladiators driven by a thundering percussion soundtrack by Les Tambours du Bronx; In/Side, a gripping solo to the vivid emotions of Nina Simone’s “Wild is the Wind” and Takademe, the company premiere of a percussive, fast-paced work with complex, tightly woven rhythms of Indian Kathak dance that mimic the vocalized rhythmic syllables of Sheila Chandra’s jazzy score.
The Kansas City programs also introduced Other Kansas City premieres and new productions including a dance by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris, inspired by stories submitted to the “Fight HIV Your Way” contest of people living with or affected by HIV, an initiative of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and a new production of a landmark dance by Alvin Ailey, Streams (1970).