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Page 6 - Spelman Spotlight
Alvin Ailey Returns With “Revelations”
In four different programs the
extraordinary Alvin Ailey Amer
ican Dance Theater will treat
audiences to a wide selection of
their best old and new pieces on
October 6, 7, and 8 at the Atlanta
Civic Center.
The opening night performance
on Friday, October 6 features an
extra special program including,
“Toccata,” which is being revived
this year in honor of the Ailey
company’s 20th anniversary. A
sultry stunning mood piece,
“Toccata” is taken from the
outstanding “Come and Get the
Beauty of It Hot” by choreogra
pher Talley Beatty.
Friday evening will also show
case the beautiful Alvin Ailey solo
“Love Songs” that will be danced
by the superb Dudley Williams to
Leon Russell’s music “He Ain’t
Heavy” and “A Song For You.”
“Masekela Langage,” which em
bodies the spirit, humor and
drama of the black plight in South
Africa, will follow and in it the
spirited dancers move to the
fabulous sounds of jazz trumpeter
Hugh Masekela. Closing the
opening night performance will be
George Faison’s exuberant tribute
to the late blues singer Otis
Redding, “Suite Otis,” that
premiered to enthusiastic acclaim
last year in Atlanta.
The Saturday evening program
on October 7, will be highlighted
by the dynamic and powerful
“Road of the Phoebe Snow,” set to
Duke Ellington music, as well as
the exquisite Alvin Ailey work,
“Streams,” that has never before
been seen by Atlanta audiences.
Ending the evening with a rousing
bang will be Ailey’s unequalled
masterpiece “Revelations.” This
piece never fails to bring the
audience to its feet, overcome with
the contagious old time black
gospel spirit of this irresistible
dance classic.
There will be two performances
on Sunday, October 8 beginning
with a 3:00 p.m. matinee. “Butter
fly” by the young black choreo
grapher Rael Lamb will lead off
that afternoon and immediately
cast a spell over the theater with its
display of graceful flowing move
ment. Also presented will be the
company revival of “Flowers,”
which was created in 1971 by Ailey
as a tribute to the female superstars
who are unable to cope with the
pressures of fame and fortune.
This powerful work uses the music
of rock star Janis Joplin with
dancer Maxine Sherman portray
ing the work’s troubled star.
Also on Sunday afternoon will
be one of last year’s most popular
premieres, “The Time Before, The
Time After (After The Time
Before).” This lusty romantic duet
is a sharp-edged depiction of a
couple who can’t stand each other,
yet can’t live without one another.
“Night Creatures,” a piece from
the 1976 “Ailey Celebrates Elling
ton” Festival will complete the
matinee. This work has been called
a celebration of the sensuous and
with its pizazz and good humor it
offers a blend of cool jazz and
ballet that appropriately caps off
this excellent program.
The final performance is on
Sunday, October 8 at 8:30 p.m.
and it features a varied mix of the
company’s best works. George
Faison’s “Gazelle” will open the
program with its moving portrayal
of a wild creature that is hunted
down and killed by African
bushman. It is a mesmerizing piece
in which the dancer seems to
become an elegant, fluid creature,
preening, prancing and gliding her
way around the stage. Images of
black womanhood will be seen in
the moving “Cry.” Full of
radiance, lust and sorrow, this
piece is wrenching in its soulful
intensity and power. There could
be no better way to end such an
Ailey engagement than with the
flashy, jazzy, “Suite Otis” followed
by the jubilant combination of
gospels and spirituals that encom
pass the spectacular “Revelations.”
Good seats are still available for
The world famous Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater will hold
company auditions on Thursday,
October 5 at Spelman College in
the University Center.
Dancers who audition must be
proficient in jazz, modern, ballet
and ethnic techniques. The audi
tion will be held at Read Hall
Gymnasium on the Spelman
all performances and can be
purchased at all SEATS ticket
outlets including the Fox Theater
and all Rich’s and Sears stores.
Phone orders can be charged on
Visa, Master Charge and C&S by
calling 881-1978.
The Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater is being presented
by Dance Atlanta. This program is
made possible with support from
the National Endowment for the
Arts and the Southern Arts
Federation.
Campus from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for
women, and 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. for
men and will be open to the general
public for observation.
According to the Ailey Com
pany Manager, Lois Framheim,
only two auditions are being held
during the company’s fall tour. In
Detroit as well as Atlanta, they will
look for new dance talent as possi
ble company members.
Ailey Holds Auditions
At Spelman
