Ailey II, the youthful and gifted second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will return to its home, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, for a highly anticipated two-week season featuring 14 exciting performances from April 6-17.
Ailey II’s 2011 New York season comes on the heels of a wildly successful North American tour and an array of critically-acclaimed performances in the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and Germany. The company has added an additional performance to their two-week run in anticipation of superseding the success of their 2007 and 2009 sold out engagements.
Ailey II Artistic Director Sylvia Waters, a recipient of the 2008 Dance Magazine Award, is delighted to be returning to the company’s home theater. “I’m excited,” Waters said. “I know the dancers will kick it up a notch for our home town audiences, if that’s even humanly possible!”
Hailed as “second to none” by Dance Magazine, Ailey II is at the peak of its popularity, winning rave reviews and regularly selling out performances all over the world. The dancers are always excited to bring the Ailey spirit home and perform for fans and patrons in New York, known to many as the center of the dance world.
“We have 12 of the most beautiful dancers who are ready to share their incredible gifts as artists with New York City,” said Troy Powell, associate artistic director of Ailey II. “They’re certainly going to change audience members’ perspectives when they leave the theater.”
This season, Ailey II presents two dynamic programs showcasing six unique ballets. Program A will feature three premieres: “The Corner,” a full ensemble work by Kyle Abraham combining contemporary hip hop vernacular with post modern movement; “Doscongio,” Robert Moses’ signature work set to two movements of Chopin’s Sonata for cello and piano (op. 65); and “Shards,” Donald Byrd’s 1988 work originally staged on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, set to music by Mio Morales.
The program will also include Carlos dos Santos’ “Proximity,” which explores the dynamics of relationships between four strangers and the natural energetic shifts and differences between them.
Program B will feature: “Echoes” by Thang Dao, depicting the echoes of memories of his family escaping Vietnam; “Valse,” by former Ailey school student and emerging choreographer Sidra Bell; and will conclude with Donald Byrd’s “Shards.”
Program A: “Proximity,” “Doscongio” / “The Corner” / “Shards”
Program B: “Echoes” / “Valse” / “Shards”
Performance Schedule
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (Program A)
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (Program B)
Friday, April 8, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (Program A)
Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Program A) & 8:00 p.m. (Program B)
Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Program B) & 7:00 p.m. (Program A)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (Program B)
Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (Program A)
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.(Program B)
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Program B) & 8:00 pm (Program A)
Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Program B) & 7:00 p.m. (Program A).
