Three pillars of modern dance

Roy’s Joys by Twyla Tharp

This silky, sultry work embodies the spontaneity of the 1940s and 50s jazz soundtrack by Roy Eldridge. Mixing vernacular dance with ballet and modern technique, it exudes an easy, carefree energy that shows Tharp at her rollicking best.

Dancing Spirit by Ronald K. Brown

Ronald K. Brown pays tribute to Ailey’s Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison’s profound influence with a new work that echoes the title of Jamison’s autobiography. Set to music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis and War, Brown’s evocative choreography uses movement from Cuba, Brazil and the United States to conjure dancing spirits who embody Jamison’s elegance, vision, dignity and generosity.

Revelations by Alvin Ailey

Using African American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Alvin Ailey’s Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. Ailey described the memories that inspired Revelations as “blood memories” because they were so strong, he felt they were part of him as much as the blood that ran through his veins.

More than just a popular dance work, it has become a cultural treasure, beloved by generations of fans. Seeing Revelations for the first time or the hundredth can be a transcendent experience, with audiences cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats from the opening notes of the plaintive “I Been ’Buked” to the rousing “Wade in the Water” and the triumphant finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” It is no surprise that it is the most widely seen modern dance work in the world.

See the full Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Programme

[Image description] Two black men extend arms and leg in high arabesque, one standing behind the other. They wear long soft brown trousers and patterned tops, against a cobalt blue wall and floor.

Kindly supported by Blavatnik Family Foundation.