THE EXTERNAL KNOT by Troy Powell“This piece follows a man on his journey to find his independence amongst the many people in his world. The music was vital in this process for me as both Phillip Glass and Robert Schumann have been tremendously inspirational composers for me as a choreographer. They carry the dancers through the smaller and larger sections driving the soloist to his destination.”

BREAKTHROUGH by Manual Vignouelle“Manuel Vignouelle examines the struggle to bond in a world where connections are so often just out of our reach. He challenged the dancers to connect their movement to their own lives and to the lives of the people and communities around them.”

WINGS by Jennifer Archibald“I was intrigued by Jennifer’s unique blend of hip-hop and contemporary that she brings to her work. Wings explores the concept of angels on earth – she challenged the cast to find a deeper spiritual side for the work.”

VIRTUES by Amy Hall Garner“Amy has a way of empowering the dancers to understand who they are as artists, not just as dancers. She knows what to say to them to get their minds working in innately creative ways. Her movement is fresh. The positive energy that exudes off the dancers as they celebrate life on stage is infectious. I dare you to not smile!”

CUORE SOTT’OLIO by Katarzyna Skarpetowska“Kate takes you through a lifetime of emotions in this work – I love that. The full-bodied and rigorous movement drives the dancers through the space keeping your mind and eye engaged throughout the piece. She makes you invested in the work; I feel an attachment to each of the adventurous duets and the soloist.”

HISSY FITS by Dwight Rhoden“It’s always nice to have familiar faces back in the studio to inspire and motivate the next generation. Dwight has a wonderful history with us as a former Ailey Company member which allows him to understand how these dancers think and move. The movement genealogy that can be traced from signature Ailey works to Dwight’s Hissy Fits is fascinating.”

Troy Powell speaks on the 2015 season

ISSUE SPRING2015

David Adrian Freeland Jr. in Troy Powell’s The External Knot. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Ailey II in Manuel Vignoulle’s breakthrough. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Ailey II in Katarzyna Skarpetowska’s Cuore Sott’olio. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Riccardo Battaglia and Aubree Brown in Dwight Rhoden’s Hissy Fits. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Shay Bland and Jamal White in Jennifer Archibald’s Wings. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Chalvar Monteiro in Amy Hall Garner’s Virtues. Photo by Pierre Wachholder

BACKSTAGEAILEY II

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FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS, AILEY II IS RETURNING TO THE JOYCE!

JENNIFER ARCHIBALD“Jennifer Archibald may be a new and upcoming choreographer, but she certainly is not new to Ailey. Archibald’s return to choreograph for Ailey II is particularly special for me. Jennifer was a student of mine just a few years ago while she was studying at The Ailey School. Seeing her grow from the student she was while attending classes here to developing her own unique aesthetic as a dancer and artist is extremely rewarding for me as her teacher. Bringing former Ailey School dancers into the studio with Ailey II encourages the company to think about their own path and their artistic interests.”

– Troy Powell

More on Jennifer: Archibald is the Founder and Artistic Director of Arch Dance Company and ArchCore 40. Her works have been commissioned by the Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, MADCO, and the Joffrey Ballet. She is currently on faculty at STEPS on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, the Ailey Extension, Gibney Dance, and CAP21 America’s Musical Theater Conservatory in NYC.

“When you grow up in New York City as a dancer, The Joyce is bound to play a significant role in your life. As one of the city’s premier dance theaters, The Joyce has hosted nearly 300 dance companies in its tenure. I have spent countless evenings there being inspired by the talent of the performers who have graced their stage. Having the opportunity to build a week for Ailey II to perform there is incredibly exciting. The Joyce attracts dancers and artists from around the world, so the chance to showcase the company’s hard work there is fulfilling both for the dancers and me. The Theater was originally a revival movie house that was later renovated to create a 427 seat theater. The Joyce hosts rehearsals, auditions, and master classes weekly in addition to its diverse performance calendar.”

Purchase tickets for Ailey II at the Joyce by calling (212) 691-9740 or visiting www.joyce.org/Ailey-II

JANUARY EXPLOSIONStudents from the Professional Division and Junior Division came together for an evening of breathtaking dancing. The School’s annual January Explosion was presented on January 14, 2015 at 7PM for a full house. The evening included choreography by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company member Hope Boykin, as well as Christian von Howard, Jade Barnett-Irons, Pedro Ruiz, Nathan Trice, and Guillermo Asca.

CHOREOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT

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Ailey II in Dwight Rhoden’s Hissy Fits. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

Students of The Ailey School in ‘The Edge of the Edge’ by Theresa Ruth Howard. Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER 2015 US TOUR

Detroit, MI March 19-22Hartford, CT March 24Boston, MA March 26-29Lincoln, NE April 7Mesa, AZ April 10-11Tucson, AZ April 12Los Angeles, CA April 15-19Berkeley, CA April 21-26Baltimore, MD May 2-3Newark, NJ May 8-10

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AILEY II: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE

INSIGHT FROM AILEY II

CHALVAR MONTEIRO HOMETOWN: MONTCLAIR, NJ

Mr. Monteiro trained at The Ailey School as a scholarship student. Before joining Ailey II, he worked with Elisa Monte Dance and Kyle Abraham.

When asked what question he would ask Mr. Ailey, Mr. Monteiro replied, “I’ve always wondered about Mr. Ailey’s use and illustration of water in his ballets. There is a cleansing, beautiful, and sometimes ethereal quality in the atmosphere he created. Aside from baptism, where did his affinity for water develop?”

SAMANTHA BARRIENTO HOMETOWN: QUEENS, NYMs. Barriento was a student in The Ailey School’s Junior Division and is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program in Dance.

Getting ready for the Ailey II season at The Joyce, Ms. Barriento said, “I am most excited to see the reaction from the audience after the company performs breakthrough by Manuel Vignouelle. It is risky and full of energy and is captivating to watch.”

For membership questions, please contact Rayna Bagchi in the Individual Giving office at (212) 405-9033 or rbagchi@alvinailey.org

Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974, the company embodies Mr. Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Under the direction of Sylvia Waters, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular dance companies in the country. With new Artistic Director Troy Powell at the helm, Ailey II will continue to thrive as he brings a fresh dimension to this beloved company.

Photo: Eduardo Patino, NYC

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