Theatre News South Africa

The fervent passion of dance

The raucous rhythm of the highly acclaimed New York-based Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most popular global modern dance companies, raised the roof in Cape Town this week, following sell-out performances in Joburg at the beginning of September.

Passion in dance delivers an emotional truth that strikes at the core of audiences, and with this production, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's tour marks a welcome return to South Africa in September after 17 years, following in the tradition of performances to an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, inspiring all in a universal celebration of the human spirit using the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition.

The artistry, power and passion of the company's 32 extraordinary dancers in performances of works by a spectrum of renowned choreographers has an impact on audiences around the world emotionally and physically, and has brought local audiences to their feet in cheering in spontaneous standing ovations.

Image by Gert Krautbauer
Image by Gert Krautbauer

Emotional tour de force

An epic, emotional tour de force, it's a showcase of incredible athleticism, technique and spirit of the dancers, performing a diverse and dynamic repertory.

Night Creature is based on choreography by Ailey and restaged by Mazazumi Chaya, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Associate Artistic Director who has performed with the Company for 15 years. Fluid and serene, Night Creature is set to the music of Duke Ellington, with Akua Noni Parker and Yannick Lebrun leading the company. Parker, who began dancing at three, trained at the Academy of Dance in Delaware and performed with the Dance Theater of Harlem, Ballet San Jose and the Cincinnati Ballet before joining the Company in 2008. Hailed by France-Amèrique magazine as one of the 50 most talented French dancers in the US, Lebrun began his training in Cayenne, French Guiana, and moved to New York City in 2004 where he studied at the Ailey School as a scholarship student.

The jazzy After The Rain Pas de Deux is infused with a sombre blues temperament, with husband-and-wife duo Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims pouring their heart and soul into each delicate movement. Its emotional choreography is re-staged by Jason Fowler from Christopher Wheeldon's original work; Wheeldon studied at the Royal Ballet School and was appointed the New York City Ballet's first resident choreographer in 2001, with dramatic music by Arvo Pärt.

Linda Sims began her dance training at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance and is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, and joined the Company in 1996.

Glenn Sims began his classical dance training at the Academy of Dance in New Jersey and attended the Juilliard School. He joined the Company in 1996.

Image by Paul Kolnik
Image by Paul Kolnik

Robust choreography

Exuberant and hypnotic, the vibrant Exodus is danced to the robust choreography of Rennie Harris, who was born and raised in an African-American community in North Philadelphia, and founded the hip hop dance theatre company Harris Puremovement in 1992, a company dedicated to preserving and disseminating hip hop culture.

The spiritual and soulful Revelations is an absolute delight. It features some stirring high-energy performances from Marcus Jarrell Willis, Hope Boykin and Demetia Hopkins-Greene dancing to Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel in the Pilgrim of Sorrow segment, and Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims infusing the Fix, Me, Jesus movement with consummate passion.

In Take Me To The Water from Revelations, Daniel Harder, Jacquelin Harris, Michael Jackson Jnr. and Jeroboam Bozeman perform Howard A Roberts' rousing Processional/ Honor, Honor', with Rachel McLaren, Vernand J Gilmore and Jacqueline Green dancing Ella Jenkin's Wade in the Water, and Jamar Roberts performing James Miller's I Wanna Be Ready.

The stirring finale segment of Revelations - Move, Members, Move - features powerful performances from Jackson Jnr, Lebrun and Michael Frances McBride in Roberts' Sinner Man, with the Company giving everything to Rock My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.

Make sure not to miss the final performances of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Artscape Opera on 18 September at 8pm and on Saturday, 19 September at 2pm and 8pm and on Sunday, 20 September at 1.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost from R100 to R475 from Computicket or via the Artscape box office on +27 (0)21 421 7695.

Image by Pierre Wachholder
Image by Pierre Wachholder

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognised by a US Congressional resolution as a vital American 'Cultural Ambassador to the World', grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance.

Founded by Alvin Ailey, recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honour, and guided by Judith Jamison beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle, whom Judith Jamison chose to succeed her on 1 July, 2011.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents - as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms - promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition.

"Alvin Ailey was posthumously awarded the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honour; 25 years after his passing, the power of his enduring legacy continues to extend from New York to far-reaching international tours and memorable visits to communities around the globe," who will visit South Africa for the first time in September.

"Mr Ailey said it so well: 'Dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people.' I'm proud to lead the Company back to South Africa for the first time this century and excited for audiences there to experience uplifting performances by the world's most amazing dancers," says Robert Battle, who has been Artistic Director since 2011.

www.alvinailey.org

About Daniel Dercksen

Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.za
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