Ailey
II
The
Next Generation of Dance
Francesca
Harper, Artistic Director
Thursday,
November 10, 2022, 8pm
Tickets range from $29-$49
The recently renovated State Theatre
New Jersey presents Ailey II, the next generation of dance
featuring a renowned ensemble of 12 rising stars on Thursday, November 10, at 8pm.
Ailey
II, the celebrated second company to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is
universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best
early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of outstanding
and emerging choreographers. One of the most popular dance companies in the
country, Ailey II combines a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community
outreach programs. The company continues to expand the bridge from the studio
to the stage for talented young performers from The Ailey School under the
wings of Artistic Director Francesca Harper, who took her first dance
steps at the school where her mother was director from 1984-2010.
“I
am excited for audiences far and near to experience the power and grace of
these 12 superbly gifted dancers in remarkable works by a variety of powerful
choreographic voices,” said Artistic Director Francesca Harper. “It’s an
honor to lead Ailey II into its next era, keeping Alvin Ailey’s legacy of
artistry and generosity moving forward while nurturing the next generation of
performing artists on a journey of discovery.”
The Ailey II
program includes SAA MAGNI (2019) choreographed by
Yannick Lebrun; ENEMY IN THE FIGURE (Excerpt, 1989)
with choreography, stage, original lighting, and costume design by William
Forsythe; ALLELUIA (2002) choreographed by Robert
Battle; and FREEDOM SERIES (2021) choreographed by
Francesca Harper.
In
ALLELUIA, Robert Battle seamlessly meshes the foot stomping and
hand gestures of the Baptist Church with classical Baroque idioms, setting
seven dancers robed in white in a sustained burst of motion that builds to an
ecstatic finale. Like Alvin Ailey before him, Battle takes inspiration from his
church background in this dance of rebirth that parallels the new life Ailey II
is embarking on in its next era.
ENEMY IN
THE FIGURE (excerpt) is the propulsive central
section of William Forsythe’s eponymous work. Originally created in Germany
(1989) for his ensemble, Ballet Frankfurt, the full work has been performed in
major venues across the globe. Thom Willem’s percussive electronic score was an
inspiration for the work’s choreographic invention and the radical use of light
and shadow in the original stage design. This excerpt puts the formidable dance
skills of the Ailey II dancers on fine display, giving their craft and vitality
an invigorating framework.
Francesca
Harper’s FREEDOM SERIES travels through a landscape of memories
creating a series of vignettes that embody and imagine a hybrid world where
memory strives to influence the future. Depicted through this futuristic
lens, and developed in collaboration with the Ailey II dancers, Harper’s work
examines identity and community. With costumes by designer Elias Gurrola
and a score featuring a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, Freedom
Series’ unexpected twists and turns bridge tender moments to its intrinsic
ferocity.
The Ailey II
dancers include Nicholas Begun, Meagan King, Christopher Taylor, Travon M.
Williams, Rachel Yoo Spencer Everett, Jaryd Farcon, Maya Finman-Palmer, Patrick
Gamble, Kali Marie Oliver, Tamia Strickland, and Maggy van den Heuvel, who all
trained at The Ailey School.
For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 5pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
About State Theatre New Jersey
After major renovations, State
Theatre New Jersey has reopened and celebrated its 100th Anniversary in
December 2021 in a fully renovated theater including newly renovated lobbies,
all new restrooms, upgraded HVAC systems, a new elevator for access to all levels,
and brand-new theater seats. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville
palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring
it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of
2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed at
STNJ.org/explore/treasures-of-new-jersey-documentary. Today, State Theatre is
the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more
than six million people through its doors since reopening as a non-profit
performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of
the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact
on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The
mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tony
Bennett, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry
Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings
include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz,
Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund.
STATE THEATRE
NEW JERSEY
Guest
Services - 732-246-SHOW (7469)
Online -
STNJ.org
