Choosing from a month of performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) is sometimes difficult, but even at mid-season, at the selections were many. The all new program (December 11) included the wildly infectious Walking Mad (2001) by Swedish choreographer Johan Inger whose re-imagined use of Maurice Ravel’s over used “Bolero,” hit big. The dancers (Danica Paulos, Jacquelin Harris, Rachel McLaren, Michael Francis McBride, Jamar Roberts, Glenn Allen Sims, Yannick Lebrun, Chalvar Monteiro and Sean Aaron Carmon) embraced the challenge. From McBride’s “Bill Erwin-like” entrance through the audience in a bowler hat and trench coat, to Harris’ graceful climb along the loud wooden wall manipulated by industrial-sized rollers, Inger’s action-packed sequences of partnering, made for beautiful chaos. In the middle was the final iteration of Untitled America, Kyle Abraham’s three-part suite. A year ago, the first section, a trio, was introduced, the last two larger group sections followed, and the result is epic. This was Abraham’s ode to the prison system, the “Black Lives Matter” movement and hope for change. “I wanna go home,” the text from one of the many wanting voices from the system rang out. The entire cast is beautiful, but Ghrai deVore, Monteiro and Roberts deserve special kudos because they speak Abraham’s luscious movement language so well. Though Mauro Bigonzetti’s Deep (2016) was not as satisfying, the dancers as always, delivered.
“Celebrating Ronald K. Brown” was the title of the evening (December 14) dedicated to long-time Ailey choreographer Brown who first began choreographing for the company 20 years ago. Large casts danced Brown’s Open Door (2015), Four Corners (2013) and Grace (1999), all crowd pleasers, while soloist Matthew Rushing exudes ease in excerpts from IFE/MY HEART (2005). The evening was just as much for Brown as it was for each of Brown’s dedicated fans. In a 1999 New York Times article Brown said, “…it is a special honor for someone who never belonged to the Ailey troupe to be choreographing for the Ailey dancers.” He joins an impressive roster of choreographers who also had an evening at New York City Center dedicated to them and their work:JUDITH JAMISON – 1999 – New York City Center; DONALD McKAYLE - 1991 - New York City Center; TALLEY BEATTY – 1989 - New York City Center; and KATHERINE DUNHAM – 1989 - New York City Center
“Celebrating Ronald K. Brown” was the title of the evening (December 14) dedicated to long-time Ailey choreographer Brown who first began choreographing for the company 20 years ago. Large casts danced Brown’s Open Door (2015), Four Corners (2013) and Grace (1999), all crowd pleasers, while soloist Matthew Rushing exudes ease in excerpts from IFE/MY HEART (2005). The evening was just as much for Brown as it was for each of Brown’s dedicated fans. In a 1999 New York Times article Brown said, “…it is a special honor for someone who never belonged to the Ailey troupe to be choreographing for the Ailey dancers.” He joins an impressive roster of choreographers who also had an evening at New York City Center dedicated to them and their work:JUDITH JAMISON – 1999 – New York City Center; DONALD McKAYLE - 1991 - New York City Center; TALLEY BEATTY – 1989 - New York City Center; and KATHERINE DUNHAM – 1989 - New York City Center
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