By Walter Rutledge
Ailey II will begin their 2013 New York season on Wednesday March 13 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater located at 405 West 55th Street. The highly anticipated two-week season, which runs through March 24, will offer 14 performances. The season will feature two programs entitled All New and Returning Favorites respectively; the company will present a total seven works.
The All New program will open the season on Wednesday March 13th, The program will feature four works, three premieres and one new production, by four emerging and established choreographers; Malcolm Low, Jessica Lang, Benoit-Swan Pouffer and Amy Hall Garner. Malcolm Low’s One Forgotten Moment (premiere) set to music by Damon White, Cole Porter and Arvo Part, depicts love and loss in various relationships. Virtues (premiere) by Amy Hall Garner set to a vibrant score by Karl Jenkins delivers a high-energy blend of contemporary modern and jazz. Rusty (premiere) by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater member and the current Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet artistic director Benoit-Swan Pouffer; explores the experiences and challenges of young artists and the relationships they build as performers. A new production of Jessica Lang’s elegant solo Splendid Isolation II (The Calling) set to the choral music O Maria, Stella Maris performed by Trio Mediaeval completes this program.
Returning Favorites will offer three works previously presented by Ailey II by choreographers Ailey II Artistic Director Troy Powell, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison and Alvin Ailey. The External Knot (2007) by Troy Powell follows the journey of a young man and his internal battle to assert his independence set the music of Phillip Glass and Robert Schumann. Divining is Jamison’s first major work as a choreographer for the Ailey Company, created in 1984 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey. Ailey’s Quintet (1968) choreographed to the timeless songs of Laura Nyro is considered a small masterwork. Quintet displays his distinctive gift and choreographic prowess for combining serious choreography and themes while humanizing his characters.
This is the first season the direction of Troy Powell who was appointed Artistic Director in July 2012. His appointment was part of a total transition of the company including Rehearsal Director Alia Kache, a former member of Ailey II. Seven new dancers; Jeroboam Bozeman, David Adrian Freeland Jr., Gentry George, Edward Spots, Tyler Brown, Daphne Lee and Oliver Medus will also make her debut this season.
The schedule for the first week is: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 7:30pm – All New; Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 7:30pm – Returning Favorites; Friday, March 15, 2013 at 8pm – All New, Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 3pm – Returning Favorites, Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 8pm – All New, Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 3pm – All New, and Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 7:30pm – Returning Favorites
Tickets are now on sale at $49. To purchase tickets season updates and a complete schedule of performances visit www.AlvinAiley.org/AileyII or call 866- 811- 4111. Tickets can be purchased at The Ailey Citigroup Theater box office located at 405 West 55th Street. If available, a limited number of student rush tickets can be purchased at the box office 30 minutes prior to curtain for $10 (cash only). Groups of 10 or more receive a discount on tickets purchased visit AlvinAiley.org/GroupSales or call 212- 405- 9082.
In Photo: 1) Anne O Donnell 2,3&4) Ailey II
Photo Credit: 1) Pierre Wachholder 2,3 & 4) Eduardo Patino
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