Dance Consortium recently announced its Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater UK Tour for 2016: in the UK this will begin with a two-week season at Sadler’s Wells, London. The tour will then journey to Plymouth, Birmingham, Bradford, Nottingham, Cardiff, Salford Quays, Southampton, Canterbury and Edinburgh, and will include five premieres. The UK premieres consist of works by Robert Battle, Artistic Director, and choreographers Rennie Harris, Ronald K. Brown and Aszure Barton. Two company premieres are a pas de deux by Christopher Wheeldon, with an additional piece by Paul Taylor.
No Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater appearance would be complete without its signature masterpiece Revelations, performed in addition to other company classics by company founder Alvin Ailey, Cry and Night Creature. The appearance of the company in the UK is following a six year absence, it’s return presented again by Dance Consortium. The diverse repertoire of works and premieres means audiences will be both entertained and fulfilled.
Founded in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is recognised as one of the world’s most popular dance companies. Under the leadership of Battle, Ailey’s performances celebrate the human spirit through the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition. In almost six decades, Ailey’s artists have performed for over 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, and continue to wow audiences and critics around the world. The 2016 autumn tour will mark the fourth time Ailey is presented by Dance Consortium, and begins on 6 September with its four-programme season at Sadler’s Wells. It concludes at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on 19 October.
Additionally, in London and Southampton, Ailey’s Mini Matinee is the perfect introduction to the company’s repertoire. Aimed at family audiences, Mini Matinees are 60 minutes long and include short introductions before each work, as well as a post-performance Q&A with members of the company.