Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, America’s cultural ambassador to the world, returns to the New York City Center stage for its annual holiday engagement from Dec. 4, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025.
The theater said on Monday that the five-week run kicks off the 2024-25 season, celebrating “Legacy in Motion” and the life and legacy of beloved Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison. New works by choreographers inspired by founder Alvin Ailey’s artistry will accompany returning favorites.
Throughout the season, audiences will be treated to the world premieres of Sacred Songs by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, Finding Free by Hope Boykin, Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch, and Al-Andalus Blues by Jamar Roberts.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater said the season includes the 25th-anniversary staging of Ronald K. Brown’s rapturous blockbuster Grace and a new production of Elisa Monte’s mesmerizing Treading. Live music will be presented at select performances of Finding Free, Sacred Songs, and Alvin Ailey’s soul-stirring masterpiece Revelations.
Performances kick off with a one-night-only Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 4, honoring legendary dance educator Jody Gottfried Arnhold for her “steadfast commitment to accessible dance education for all and her invaluable support of AILEY’s mission,” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater said.
It said honorary chairs for the evening are Gayle King, co-host of CBS Mornings and editor-at-large of Oprah Daily, and Phylicia Rashad, two-time Tony® Award-winning actress.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater said this extravaganza begins with a special program showcasing Grace with an exceptional live music performance by Tony® and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Leslie Odom, Jr. with composer, visual artist, and GRAMMY® Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant; and the indelible Revelations, accompanied by a live choir.
Immediately after, guests will gather at the Ziegfeld Ballroom for a delightful evening of dinner and dancing, the theater said.
Following the New York City Center performances, the company said it will embark on its 2025 coast-to-coast US tour, including a return to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, Feb. 12–16, with additional stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., among others.
