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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Announces 2007 City Center Season

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World Premieres by Camille A. Brown and Frederick Earl Mosley
Company Premieres of Firebird and Reflections in D
November 28 - December 31, 2007

This season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater recognized as the premier modern dance company in the world is presenting three works choreographed to the music of Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Brandon McCune.

Great seats are available in all sections of the theater starting at $25. Discount tickets are available when purchasing tickets for more than one performance, for the family matinee series, students with an appropriate ID and groups of 10 or more. For group sales, call 212-405-9082 or e-mail [email protected].

Artistic Director Judith Jamison has announced that the 2007 New York Season of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will present world premieres by Camille A. Brown and Frederick Earl Mosley, company premieres by Maurice Bjart and Robert Battle, three new productions of classic works, and an array of repertory favorites.

The five-week season at New York City Center, from November 28 through December 31, opens with a Gala Celebration featuring the company premiere of Maurice Bjart's innovative reworking of Fokine's traditional Firebird - the first complete ballet by this legendary European choreographer to be staged by a U.S. dance company as well as Judith Jamison's re-staging of Alvin Ailey's Reflections in D, and Ailey's timeless Revelations with live music.

Two highly praised young choreographers who are both former students of The Ailey School will create new work: Camille Brown will use music by Ray Charles and original compositions by rising composer Brandon McCune in The Groove To Nobody's Business, which explores relationships that develop among strangers waiting for a subway train. Frederick Earl Mosley will premiere his piece Saddle Up!, where the Ailey dancers kick up their heels in a collection of stories from the Old West.

The Company premiere of Robert Battle's Unfold is a duet to a recording of music sung by Leontyne Price called a “highlight of 2005" by Dance Magazine. In addition to Judith Jamison's re-staging of Reflections in D, Alvin Ailey's 1962 solo that she later performed with the Company, other season highlights include new productions of two classic AAADT works: Talley Beatty's 1959 The Road of the Phoebe Snow, an American masterpiece set to the jazz music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, and Alvin Ailey's 1971 Flowers, inspired by the life of Janis Joplin. Both are being mounted by Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, who is celebrating his 35th Anniversary with Ailey, and will be honored at a special performance on Tuesday, December 18.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's New York City Center Season is sponsored by Prudential Financial.

World Premieres
The Groove To Nobody's Business
Choreography: Camille A. Brown
Music: Ray Charles and original compositions by Brandon McCune Camille A. Brown, formerly of Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, has choreographed a new work that explores the relationships that develop among strangers waiting for a subway train. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was awarded a commissioning grant by The Joyce Theater for the creation of this work by Ms. Brown, a recognized emerging choreographer called “one to watch" by Dance Magazine.

Saddle Up!
Choreography: Frederick Earl Mosley
Music: “Appalachian Journey" by Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer & Mark O'Connor Saddle Up! is a humorous western-themed piece complete with inventive sets, props and costumes. Frederick Earl Mosley's high-energy work involves scenes and characters highlighting different relationships, with a raucous “hoe down" ending. Mr. Mosley established his Diversity of Dance company in 1996 and is a former student and current teacher at The Ailey School.

Company Premieres
Firebird (1970)
Choreography: Maurice Bjart
Restaged by: Shonach Mirk Robles
Music: Igor Stravinsky “The Firebird Suite"
An innovative interpretation of the original created by Michel Fokine for Ballets Russes in 1910, Maurice Bejart's Firebird has been widely praised as a coming of age allegorical tale of rebellion, revolution, catharsis and rebirth. It will be the first complete ballet by this legendary European choreographer to be presented by a U.S. dance company.

Unfold (2005)
Choreography: Robert Battle
Music: Gustave Charpentier, sung by Leontyne Price
This duet was dubbed “a highlight" by Dance Magazine at its premiere in 2005. Previously, Robert Battle choreography has been seen in two works in the repertory of both Ailey II and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

New Productions
The Road of the Phoebe Snow (1959)
Choreography: Talley Beatty
Restaged by: Masazumi Chaya
Music: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
Considered one of Beatty's greatest achievements, this technically challenging work was first performed by Beatty's own company and then became a centerpiece of the AAADT repertory in 1964. The Road of Phoebe Snow, the name of a train on the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, weaves a turbulent and gripping love story of young Americans from “the wrong side of the track." This new production, the first by AAADT in almost three decades, received a reconstruction grant through the inaugural dance program of the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces series.

Flowers (1971)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey
Restaged by: Masazumi Chaya
Music: Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Blind Faith
Flowers, a dramatic look at the rise and fall of a pop star inspired by the sensational life and death of Janis Joplin, is set to a selection of her music, interwoven with that of other rock songs. Reflections in D (1962)
Choreography: Alvin Ailey
Restaged by: Judith Jamison
Music: Duke Ellington
Alvin Ailey's eloquent solo, created in 1962 for himself and later notably interpreted by Judith Jamison and Dudley Williams, will be performed by both male and female soloists.

Other Season Highlights

The JPMorgan Chase Family Matinee Series

Bring your family to meet the Ailey family for an event to remember! For performances on Saturdays at 2pm, a limited number of JPMorgan Case Family Matinee tickets are available for the special price of $20. Buy early for the best seat selection. Following each Saturday matinee performance, the entire audience is invited to engage in a free question and answer session with the Ailey dancers in the theater. Maximum purchase six tickets. Offer subject to availability. Not available online. Expires October 31.

“JPMorgan Chase has a long-standing commitment to arts, culture and education in communities where we can make a difference. Our partnership with Alvin Ailey creates yet another venue for families to experience performing arts and to inspire a new generation of leaders," said Kimberly Davis, President, JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

All New

World premieres, company premieres and new productions, in addition to being seen throughout the season, will be performed on six All New programs.

Ailey Masterpieces, All Ailey & Ailey Classics

features a performance of Alvin Ailey's masterpiece, Revelations, in its entirety, and excerpts from his classic works, including: Memoria, Night Creature, Phases, Opus McShann, A Song for You, For “Bird" - With Love, Hidden Rites, and Cry.

Renowned works by Alvin Ailey will be presented throughout the season, such as: Memoria, Night Creature, Pas de Duke, The River, and Revelations. Five All Ailey programs will be presented along with three special Ailey Classics programs that feature excerpts from classic works by Alvin Ailey as well as a performance of his masterpiece, Revelations, in its entirety.

35th Anniversary Celebration

Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, is celebrating his 35th Anniversary with Ailey, and will be honored at a special performance on Tuesday, December 18.

New Year's Eve Celebration

Ring in the New Year with the Ailey dancers in a celebratory performance on December 31 at 7pm that includes the beloved Revelations.

Season Repertory

In addition to the premieres, new productions and special performances being presented this season, the Company repertory will include:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), America's Cultural Ambassador to the World, was founded in 1958 and has performed for more than 21 million people in 71 countries and on 6 continents. Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. is the umbrella organization which includes AAADT; Ailey II, founded in 1974 as a junior performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School, founded in 1969 and currently offering some of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs which is committed to bringing dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people throughout the world; and The Ailey Extension, a program that offers dance and fitness classes to the general public.

TICKETS

New York City Center is located at 131West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

Tickets are available at the New York City Center Box Office, through CityTix at (212) 581-1212 or online at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org. The New York City Center box office is located on West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Great seats are available in all sections of the theater starting at $25. Discount tickets are available when purchasing tickets for more than one performance, for the family matinee series, students with an appropriate ID and groups of 10 or more.

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