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Ailey Dancers Headed
To Scope

     On May 2-3, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company will perform in Hampton Roads at the Norfolk Scope. Although the two-night performances by the famed dance company are not being billed as one big birthday celebration, they are taking place only a few days after the dance company was founded 50 years ago on 92nd Street in New York.
     But Ailey’s dancers don’t plan to focus on celebrating the dance company’s 50th birthday. Rather, its dancers who have been characterized as “supremely graceful, athletic, and agile,” by numerous writers worldwide, will take its Hampton Road’s audience on a tender spiritual journey for two days,according to a press release from the Virginia Arts Festival. The Ailey performance is part of VAF’s 12th annual arts festival, which will present more than 70 performances through early June in cities throughout Hampton Roads.
     “This superb company has been seen by 21 million people on six continents—and no wonder,” the VAF press release notes. The company’s festival performances, here, will include signature pieces.
      But don’t expect to see dancers pull birthday cakes onstage at the Scope, when Ailey’s magnificent performers take to the stage. Fireworks exploded March 30 when dancers kicked off its 40-city birthday tour, starting at the founder’s hometown church in Roger’s Texas.
   

Posted April 23, 2008

     “We are excited to embark on 18 months of celebrations, all honoring Mr. Ailey’s dream and core mission that inspires and unites people through dance,” said Judith Jamison, artistic director for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
      The national celebration, which will run for 18 months and include free performances, will be held at historically black churches nationwide, Jamison said. Special appearances are also planned at public and private schools in all five boroughs of New York City.
      However, here In Hampton Roads, dancers are expected to perform spell-binding performances such as Alvin Ailey’s ground breaking ballet Blues Suite (1958) and its acclaimed masterpiece Revelations (1960). Both routines were performed at the company’s recent birthday celebration.
     “The dancers never fail to inspire and proudly represent the people of the U.S. and what we’re about,” said Joan Weill, who is the dance company’s board chairman.
      The Ailey dancers will perform at Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall Friday, May 2 and Sat, May 3, at 8 p.m. Sunday, they will perform May 4 at 2 p.m. For more info. go online to www. virginiaarts fest.com. Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmasters.

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