Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance series debuts at Mary D. Fisher Theatre
Sedona AZ (July 14, 2016) – Four outstanding works by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — one of the world’s leading modern dance companies — will be screened in cinemas nationwide and at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in Sedona as part of the Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance series. The Sedona International Film Festival presents the big-screen debut on Sunday, July 24 at 4 p.m.
Designated by a U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” the Company will perform its beloved signature work, Revelations, the American dance masterpiece created by founder Alvin Ailey. Audiences will also see three additional dynamic pieces showcasing Ailey’s diverse repertory: Chroma by Wayne McGregor, Grace by Ronald K. Brown, and Takademe by the Company’s Artistic Director Robert Battle.
REVELATIONS
The company’s signature work, created by its founder Alvin Ailey in 1960, is an enduring tribute to the African-American cultural experience and to Ailey’s genius. Set to African-American spirituals Revelations powerfully explores places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul and has become an American cultural treasure acclaimed as a must-see for all.
CHROMA
The ground-breaking British choreographer Wayne McGregor’s contemporary ballet is full of sensory surprises: sumptuous movement, a driving score by Joby Talbot with orchestrations of songs by The White Stripes, and a luminous set by minimalist architect John Pawson.
GRACE
One of the most popular works in the Ailey repertory, Ronald K. Brown’s spellbinding Grace is a fervent tour-de-force depicting individuals on a journey to the promised land. This spiritually-charged work is a rapturous blend of modern dance and West African idioms. The movement alternates fluidly between extremes, with eruptions of power coupled with lightness and serenity.
TAKADEME
This bravura work mixes humor and high-flying movement in a savvy deconstruction of Indian Kathak dance rhythms. Clear shapes and propulsive jumps mimic the vocalized syllables of Sheila Chandra’s syncopated score.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now‐fabled March 1958 performance in New York that forever changed the perception of American dance and is now performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents. It was founded by Alvin Ailey, recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor. Promoting the uniqueness of the African‐American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition, the company performs on major stages throughout the world in extensive yearly tours, including annually at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and at New York City Center. The Ailey organization’s mission is to further Alvin Ailey’s pioneering work through dance performances, training, and educational and community programs for all. Ailey’s permanent home — The Joan Weill Center for Dance — is New York City’s largest building dedicated to dance.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Sunday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15, or $12.50 for Film Festival members. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office or by calling 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.
