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Modern Motion
By
Natalie Brown,
Shala Carlson,
Frank Etheridge,
Alison Fensterstock,
Kandace Power Graves,
Katy Reckdahl, Ian Manheimer,
Kathryn Jezer-Morton,
Allen Johnson Jr,
Eileen Loh Harrist,
Written by Margo Adler,
Todd A. Price,
Alex Rawls,
David Lee Simmons and
Katie Walenter
On March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey and a group of young, African-American modern dancers performed at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, and the ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER was born. Ailey passed away in 1989 after creating 79 original choreographies, and the tradition of bringing important and culturally diverse works to the world has been continued by Artistic Director Judith Jamison. Alvin Ailey Dance Theater returns to New Orleans Friday and Saturday to close out the 2004-2005 New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) season.
Two nights of programming mix brand new works with old classics. Friday's performance opens with the world premiere of Love Stories. The piece explores the world of African-American social dances, set to the music of Stevie Wonder. Shining Star, a 2004 premiere, features a duet to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. The evening concludes with Alvin Ailey's signature piece, Revelations. Created in 1960, Revelations is a tribute to Ailey's "blood memories" of Texas, blues, gospel and African-American spirituals.
Saturday's program gives a nod to jazz legends Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie with Alvin Ailey's Night Ritual, Donald Byrd's Burlesque and Billy Wilson's Winter in Lisbon. It marks the first time Alvin Ailey Dance Theater has performed Donald Byrd's Burlesque choreography, which was commissioned in part by NOBA in 1999 and chronicles the seedy underworld of burlesque performers. They will also perform Elisa Monte's Treading, set to music of Steve Reich. Keep an eye out for locally born and trained Rosalyn Deshauteurs, who studied at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts before moving on to Perry Mansfield, the School of American Ballet, the Ailey School and Juilliard. Both performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts (Armstrong Park). Tickets range from $26.50-$75.50, with discounts for students, seniors and subscribers. Call the NOBA box office at 522-0996, TicketMaster at 522-5555 or visit www.nobadance.com for ticket purchase.
Other Stories This Week in Music:
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Music Listings
Other Stories by Natalie Brown, Shala Carlson, Frank Etheridge, Alison Fensterstock, Kandace Power Graves, Katy Reckdahl, Ian Manheimer, Kathryn Jezer-Morton, Allen Johnson Jr, Eileen Loh Harrist, Written by Margo Adler, Todd A. Price, Alex Rawls, David Lee Simmons and Katie Walenter:
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Natalie Brown, Shala Carlson, Frank Etheridge, Alison Fensterstock, Kandace Power Graves, Katy Reckdahl, Ian Manheimer, Kathryn Jezer-Morton, Allen Johnson Jr, Eileen Loh Harrist, Written by Margo Adler, Todd A. Price, Alex Rawls, David Lee Simmons and Katie Walenter Archives
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