In celebration of the season, En Face Magazine attended a remarkable performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center.

Before entering the theater, beautiful images of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, who passed away last month, decorated the lobby, filling the venue with newfound energy as attendees took turns taking photos in front of Jamison. Combined with the highly anticipated program ahead, New Yorkers funneled in with a bubbling excitement.

The evening began with a timely dedication to Jamison titled Dancing Spirit choreographed by Ronald K. Brown. This work, originally premiered in 2009 to celebrate Jamison’s birthday, has taken on new meaning, paying tribute to her profound influence on the company and the community. Named after her autobiography, the piece intends to summon dancing spirits who embody Ms. Jamison’s elegance, vision, dignity, and generosity. 

The dancers entered one by one following a beam of light that illuminated a corridor diagonally across the stage. Using a patient and elegant gestural phrase to move across the space, the dancers were adorned in a combination of dresses, shirts, and pants that uniquely flowed from white to blue on each person. The costumes created a second ombre effect as the company entered the stage, beginning with a dancer in all white and sequentially fading to a dancer in all blue. Following the procession, Brown’s choreography, drawing on influences from Cuba, Brazil, and the United States, ranged from honest and vulnerable to joyous and celebratory. With music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, Radiohead, and War, the company had the audience either on the edge of their seats or dancing in them throughout the piece. 

After a brief, but lively pause, the audience erupted in applause for the next work: the world premiere of Jamar Roberts’ Al-Andalus Blues. The curtain rose to reveal a stage dimly lit and the dancers powerfully arranged around a rock-like formation in the center. The moment the music reverberated through the theater, Roberts’ iconic, angular gestures commanded the stage. The dancers, each uniquely positioned around the formation, adapted the phrase to their varying levels, moving like a cohesive organism. With the sensational eerie illumination of Tony-nominated lighting designer Brandon Stirling Baker, the dancers moved with impossible intention, force, and precision. The leader of the pack, Hannah Richardson, strove to continue dancing atop the rock formation as it broke apart piece by piece. The gold accents on their black unitards outlined the strength of their figures. As the stage cleared of the land mass set, their movements became all the more animalistic, unnatural, and regal. The ensemble moved with such speed and intensity that their movements left traces in the light, resembling streaks of paint. The sheer athleticism and empowerment demonstrated on stage elicited frequent audible gasps and the audience was left mouths agape. Following the performance, a well-earned roaring applause praised the dancers during their bow. Afterward, Jamar and his creative team joined the dancers onstage to share in the celebration. 

To close the remarkable evening, the company presented the Ailey classic, Revelations. A sought-after work performed at nearly every show, they were accompanied by live music which revitalized the work in an unimagined way. The dancers moved with newfound inspiration, energy, and purpose. Journeying through the emotional trajectory of I’ve Been Buked and Wade in the Water, to Sinner Man and The Yellow Section, the audience was fully engaged, following their every movement. Whether seeing Revelations for the first or fiftieth time, there is always something new to discover. The gift of live music this evening offered just that, showcasing nuances of the sacred movement that enriched and invigorated the performance in a new light. 

After their initial bow, the company concluded with their traditional encore performance of Rocka My Soul which kept fans singing and dancing along with a vibrancy that carried through as the audience poured out of the theater. 

Thank you Alvin Ailey for a remarkable night and congratulations to all of the dancers and the creative teams. It was a joy to celebrate your season alongside you! With a variety of curated programs to choose from, don’t miss their month-long run at New York City Center through January 5th, or check out their digital magazine at enfacemagazine.com.

Experience the event with us! Watch our exciting video coverage of the evening, and enjoy many more insights like these at @enfacemagazine.