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NJPAC’s 15th Annual Ailey Day Celebration
brings free dance and movement classes to Newark, led by former Alvin
Ailey American Dance Theater members and Ailey Teaching Artists
Dancers of all
ages and skill levels are invited to join in the fun with a
variety of dance
classes, including learning steps from Ailey’s masterpiece
“Revelations,” artist talks, art projects, and more
Dancers of all ages and levels of expertise are invited
to join NJPAC
and Ailey
Arts In Education & Community Programs (AIE) for
free classes, workshops and conversations at the 15th annual Ailey Day
celebration at the Arts Center, beginning at 9 AM on Saturday, April 29.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,
founded in 1958 by the famed dancer, choreographer and activist, has
performed annually at NJPAC since the Arts Center’s opening in 1997.
For the past
15 years, in advance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s
engagement at the Arts Center, Ailey
Day has welcomed hundreds of dance enthusiasts from
across Greater Newark to a day of Ailey-inspired dance classes and
more, including a workshop with two former Ailey dancers, Nasha Thomas and Amos Machanic, where attendees can
learn the choreography of Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece, Revelations.
“This is always a joyful day, a chance for our community to come
together to celebrate the history and the legacy of an iconic African
American dancer,” says
Eyesha Marable, NJPAC’s Vice President, Community
Engagement.
Initially held in churches throughout the city, the Ailey Day program
now fills the Arts Center’s downtown Newark campus with dance classes
throughout the day, including specialized classes for children, and a
limited-mobility dance workshop that utilizes chairs and props.
Ailey’s Teaching Artists will lead classes in jazz and Horton dance
styles. Other instructors will offer classes that explore West
African dance styles.
In addition, visiting dance instructors will offer an insightful
glimpse into their work through a panel conversation, and attendees
will be invited to take part in arts and wellness activities
including children’s book readings, health screenings, crafts and
mosaic art making. The day concludes with a Show and Share event,
where participants will have a chance to perform what they’ve learned
in class.
“It's always a joy to share the legacy of Alvin Ailey and his
signature ballet, Revelations,
with the Newark community. I'm inspired by the connections made
through the workshops on Ailey
Day at NJPAC,” says Nasha Thomas, National
AileyCamp Director and Master Teacher for Arts In Education.
While the day’s events are free, registration is required.
Community members are invited to register at njpac.org/aileyday.
Attendees will have access to discounted tickets to Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater’s May 12 and 13 performances at NJPAC.
This year’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances at NJPAC on May 12-14,
will introduce Newark audiences to world premieres by Kyle Abraham
and Jamar Roberts and put them back in touch with some of Alvin
Ailey’s richest, deepest works, including the new production of Survivors, a
profound tribute to Nelson and Winnie Mandela, two works set to the
musical genius of Duke Ellington, and the always-inspiring, must-see
masterpiece, Revelations,
which is the finale of each program.
Ailey Day at NJPAC is presented in partnership with Ailey Arts In Education
& Community Programs, the City of Newark,
GlassRoots,
the Newark
Public Library, Newark Public Schools, Newark Symphony Hall,
Nimbus Arts
Center,
Premiere Dance Theatre, Sharron Miller’s Academy
for the Performing Arts, and Westfield Area YMCA.
Ailey Day
at NJPAC is a part of the M&T
Bank Dance Series at NJPAC, and is made possible by
support from RJWBarnabas Health, ADP, Discover Jersey Arts and the
New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
About
NJPAC
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown
Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in
the United States. It is the artistic, cultural, educational
and civic center of New Jersey — where great performances and events
enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey’s Town
Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access
to all and showcasing the State’s and the world’s best artists, while
acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home
city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is
shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.
NJPAC has attracted 11 million visitors (including almost two million
children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful
and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit www.njpac.org for more information.
About The
Ailey Organization and Ailey Arts in Education & Community
Programs
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now‐fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed
forever the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey,
posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the
nation’s highest civilian honor, and guided by Judith Jamison
beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle. Since
1992, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs has been
committed to bringing dance into classrooms and communities across
the country to positively impact people of all ages through the power
of dance. In addition to AileyCamp, a full scholarship day camp for
youth, in-person and remote programs includes lecture-demonstrations;
technique classes; innovative curriculum-based residencies inspired
by Alvin Ailey’s Revelations and Night Creature;
and AileyDance for Active Aging, a program that serves as an outlet
for artistic expression and fosters a sense of joy. Promoting
the uniqueness of the African‐American
cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the
American modern dance tradition, the Ailey organization also
includes: Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging
young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969),
one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world to
develop the next generation of performing arts; and Ailey Extension
(2005), dance and fitness classes for the general public, which began
with the opening of Ailey’s permanent home at 55th Street
at 9th Avenue – The Joan Weill Center for Dance – the
largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance
capital of the world. For more information about Ailey’s
performances and programs, visit www.AlvinAiley.org.
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