Jamar Roberts & Jacqueline Green - Photo: Paul Kolnick
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre have again taken over New York City Center for one month, and, as always, there are world premieres, company premieres, new productions and audience favorites. On December 5, Camille A. Brown's The Evolution of a Secured Feminie (2007) a solo work that must be danced with feminine mystique, lush technique and tenacity, was beautifully done (as it has been many times before) by Rachel McLaren. The premiere for the evening was Kyle Araham's Another Night lead by new comer (2nd year in Ailey after Ailey II), Jacqueline Green and Jamar Roberts. Yes, absolutely, there was Abraham's signature urban punctuations alongside sleek sentences that show his ability to meld today's style and codified forms, but this production also confirms Abraham's knowledge of music. Another Night was set to Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night in Tunisia." Considering that this was the first Abraham on Ailey there were undulations, piercing balances, weaving in and out of groupings, humor, and lots and lots of lush dancing. Looking forward to seeing what Another Night will offer after these Ailey dancers own it for a year.
December 9th was a bitter sweet evening devoted to saying goodbye to Renee Robinson after 31 years. How appropriate it was too that it was an evening of Ailey Classics. Featured Ailey works were Night Creature, Opus McShann, A Song For You, Cry, Love Songs, Hidden Rites and For ‘Bird’ With Love and Ailey's signature masterpiece Revelations. Robinson, as expected, danced her last dance with such grace and every single time she stepped on the stage there was nothing but roaring applause! For the last time she took the stage as the lady with the umbrella in "Wade In The Water," and although she smiled her Renee smile, we were a bit sad. Revelations finally ended and the applause seemed to just grow. Judith Jamison brought white roses from stage left and Robert Battle from stage right, and the curtain went down, but the applause still didn't stop. Seemingly because it had to be done, the curtain rose one more time, and it was just Renee with both hands, roses and all, raised high. Good luck going forward!
December 9th was a bitter sweet evening devoted to saying goodbye to Renee Robinson after 31 years. How appropriate it was too that it was an evening of Ailey Classics. Featured Ailey works were Night Creature, Opus McShann, A Song For You, Cry, Love Songs, Hidden Rites and For ‘Bird’ With Love and Ailey's signature masterpiece Revelations. Robinson, as expected, danced her last dance with such grace and every single time she stepped on the stage there was nothing but roaring applause! For the last time she took the stage as the lady with the umbrella in "Wade In The Water," and although she smiled her Renee smile, we were a bit sad. Revelations finally ended and the applause seemed to just grow. Judith Jamison brought white roses from stage left and Robert Battle from stage right, and the curtain went down, but the applause still didn't stop. Seemingly because it had to be done, the curtain rose one more time, and it was just Renee with both hands, roses and all, raised high. Good luck going forward!
Renee Robinson - Photo: Andrew Eccles
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