Alvin Ailey
Yannick Lebrun and Dominique Rosales in "Splendid Isolation," by Jessica Lange.
The youthful Alvin Ailey II Company, composed of 12 exceptional dancers gave a one-hour preview of three works before embarking on a 43-city tour. Presented at the school's theater in Manhattan, the high energy of the group, their accomplished technique, and attractive appearance won plaudits and enthusiastic support.
The company is under the direction of artistic director Sylvia Waters and associate artistic director Troy Powell. The group was founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble by Ailey himself with scholarship students from his school. Since then, the group has mastered a wide range of original choreography of extraordinary value from Ailey, Talley Beatty, Ulysses Dove and now, Stephane Boko, a French choreographer whose work, "Fragile" to music of X Alfonso and Nina Simone, was the highlight of the preview performance.
Other works on the program included "The External Knot," by Troy Powell to music of Philip Glass and Robert Schumann (a strange mix) that introduced the high level of training given the company. The last work, "When Dawn Comes…What Then?" to music of Jeff Story and Rachel Grimes, was choreographed by Christopher Huggins.
One of Alvin Ailey II's most important contributions to dance is its tours throughout the U.S. that includes colleges and high schools and will end April 29-May 8 at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan. The company has won praise for its residencies at colleges, lectures and visits to elementary, middle and high schools. For tour information: www.AlvinAiley.org.