What an honor and delight to see Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater return to the historic Auditorium Theater during its 125 Anniversary year with our First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama serving as Honorary Chair for the 2014-2015 season!
Chicago is not only the groundbreaking company’s home; the Auditorium Theater is host to the longest run of domestic performances by Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater outside of New York city.
The program changes each night of the run except for the performance of Ailey’s seminal work “Revelations”. I have seen “Revelations” in the past and it never fails to deeply move me and inspire great hope.
“Revelations” truly does “explore the emotions of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul”. Ailey uses classic songs like “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” and “Sinner Man” to paint with his superbly trained dancers many expressive and poignant pictures of hopelessness leading to deliverance in the African American tradition.
The program I viewed also featured the refreshingly modern “Chroma” and “Four Corners” which stunningly portrayed the four Archangels guarding the four corners of the earth, holding in their angelic hands the four winds. It was breathtaking and beautifully performed.
I highly recommend seeing as many of the different nights of dance Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater bestows upon its beloved Chicago audiences. The spectacular strength and beauty of Ailey’s dancers as directed by Robert Battle since 2011 will be a great source of inspiration and joy to all the members of your family, especially little girls and boys who dream of dancing with this exceptional troupe one day.
Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theater will be performing at the Auditorium Theater (50 East Congress Way, Chicago) through March 9th. For tickets and/or more information, visit http://www.alvinailey.org.
