January 27, 2004
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu
ArtAbounds
Boundary-breaking performances
co-presented by The Lobero and UCSB Arts & Lectures
UCSB Arts & Lectures and The Lobero present the brilliant Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Summary Facts:
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- One of the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture
- The brilliant African-American modern dance troupe
- Third of three ArtAbounds performances presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and The Lobero in 2003-2004
- Tuesday, March 2
- 8 pm, Arlington Theatre, 1317 State Street, Santa Barbara
- 7 pm: Meet-the-Artists Discussion
- Tickets: $45, $35
- Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures Ticket Office (805) 893-3535 or The Arlington Ticket Agency (805) 963-4408
World-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrating its 45th anniversary season, will perform on Tuesday, March 2 at 8 pm at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State Street, Santa Barbara. Since 1958 this national institution has touched the hearts of dance fans with its dynamic choreography performed by dancers whose stupendous physical skills are matched by powerful artistic expression. In a recent review Village Voice critic Deborah Jowitt exclaimed, “Lord, they’re gorgeous! Sleek, lithe, powerful. The Ailey dancers don’t just take space, they devour it, inflame it. Every piece gets solid-gold treatment.” This event is an ArtAbounds performance, presented by The Lobero and UCSB Arts & Lectures.
This cornerstone of modern dance was set when Alvin Ailey led a group of African-American dancers in a March 1958 performance at the 92nd Street Young Men’s Hebrew Association in New York. Since that fabled first show, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has gone on to perform for an estimated 19 million people throughout the United States and in nearly 70 other countries. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.
One of the 20th century’s greatest choreographers, Alvin Ailey created 79 ballets over his lifetime. His most popular and acclaimed work Revelations, which will be performed as part of the Santa Barbara program, drew upon his “blood memories” of growing up in Texas, and in particular the inspiring spiritual, blues and gospel music of the south. After a December 2003 performance of Revelations, Backstage wrote the ballet “sheds a spiritual radiance whenever and wherever performed. Little wonder that it never fails to bring audiences to their feet, screaming their appreciation and heartfelt delight.”
Judith Jamison has been artistic director of the troupe since Ailey’s untimely death in 1989. Jamison studied with Marion Cuyjet, was discovered by Agnes de Mille and made her New York debut with American Ballet Theatre in 1964. She became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great acclaim. Jamison has won numerous awards for her work as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and lecturer, and was recently presented with a National Medal of Arts by President Bush, the most prestigious award given to artists in the United States.
In addition to Revelations, the Santa Barbara program features a new ballet Juba, a potent work adapted from defiant dances performed by slaves and choreographed by Robert Battle, plus sterling revivals of The Winter in Lisbon, choreographed by Billy Wilson and danced to music by Dizzy Gillespie, and Treading, choreographed by Elisa Monte and danced to music by Steve Reich.
For more information about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater see their website at www.alvinailey.org.
Members of the company will take part in a Meet-the-Artists discussion prior to the performance on March 2 at 7 pm in the Arlington Theatre. This event is open to ticket holders only.
On Wednesday, March 3 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will present a special concert for approximately 2000 area schoolchildren at the Arlington Theatre. This even is co-presented by Children’s Creative Project.
Members of the company will teach a Dance Class on Wednesday, March 3 at 10 am at the Carrillo Recreation Center, 100 E. Carrillo Street. It costs $15 for participants and $5 for observers. This event is sponsored the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance; for information and to make a reservation, please phone (805) 966-6950.
The performance by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is the third of three ArtAbounds events of the 2003-2004 performing arts season. An innovative partnership between UCSB Arts & Lectures and The Lobero, ArtAbounds permits both presenters to bring to Santa Barbara international artists of the highest stature that neither could present on its own. This project is funded in part by the Audience Development and Marketing Grant Program using funds provided by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission.
The performance by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is supported by Michael Towbes and sponsored by the Santa Barbara News-Press. Major sponsors of the Ailey tour include Morgan Stanley and American Airlines.
Tickets for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are $45 and $35.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535,
or the Arlington Ticket Agency at (805) 963-4408.
Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.