Ailey's Season Preview for the Lucky Few-I'll Tell You to Look for...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is about to open their home season at City Center which is always a heralded display of the most amazing dancers, barre none.  I was one of the lucky ones who got a sneak peek at portions of world premiere works and new productions of the company's repertoire.  The three new productions for previous Ailey performances are THE GOLDEN SECTION by Twyla Tharp (2006), SHELTER (1992) and STACK-UP (1982) which makes you want to stand up and dance in the aisle (if not on stage with the dancers).  All three are exceptional dances worth seeing again with a new spin.  The 2 world premiers will be VICTORIA by Spanish choreographer Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's and MEMBERS DON'T GET WEARY choreographed by Ailey's own dancer extraordinare, Jamar Roberts with music by John Coltrane.  Roberts has choreographed for Ailey II.   This is his first work for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  Artistic Director Robert Battle is credited with bringing in many new works from a broad range of national & international choreographers and for mentoring & encouraging company members to expand their artistic abilities.  Jamar Roberts use of legendary jazz composer John Coltrane's music was a miraculous personification of every rich & luxuriant note.  The tempo of the dancers was more languid than most Ailey pieces and this proved an ingenious trajectory utilizing the dancers' versatile  artistic prowess.  I had a visceral response to every elongated movement.  The dance had an elasticity that pulsed, accentuated and contracted to Coltrane's soulful sounds.  The new Ailey season is upon us which is reason to celebrate.