Five of NYC's most iconic dance companies--Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem--share the spotlight and an outdoor stage with dancers and pieces from across the companies. Participants: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater - Cry by Alvin Ailey Choreography by Alvin Ailey Music: Alice Coltrane, Laura Nyro, Voices of East Harlem In 1971, Alvin Ailey choreographed the solo Cry as a birthday present for his mother on his stunning muse, the legendary Judith Jamison, who has taught the treasured role to subsequent generations of Ailey women. This physically and emotionally demanding tour-de-force - dedicated to "all Black women everywhere - especially our mothers" - went on to become an enduring work of American art. The ballet is made up of three parts - the first is set to Alice Coltrane's "Something about John Coltrane," the second to Laura Nyro's "Been on a Train" and the last has the Voices of East Harlem singing "Right On, Be Free." Ballet Hispanico - Con Brazos Abiertos by Michelle Manzanales Michelle Manzanales explores with humility, nostalgia and humor the iconic Mexican symbols that she was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas. Intertwining folkloric details with a distinctly contemporary voice in dance, set to music that ranges from Julio Iglesias to rock en Espanol, Con Brazos Abiertos is a fun and frank look at a life caught between two cultures. Dance Theatre of Harlem - When Love by Helen Pickett "Insistent time maps our days but when we are in love, we surrender," says choreographer Helen Pickett about When Love. Her exquisite pas de deux captures the wondrous feeling of timeless love. American Ballet Theatre - Children's Songs Dance by Jessica Lang A work for seven dancers, Children's Songs Dance by Jessica Lang takes its name from the music. Set to selections from Children's Songs by the late American jazz composer Chick Corea, the ballet was created on ABT Studio Company in January 2020 during a residency at The Pocantico Center in Tarrytown, New York. According to Lang, Children's Songs Dance "draws its inspiration from the transition in life between being a child and becoming an adult, with the goal of never losing the spirit of play." New York City Ballet - Red Angels by Ulysses Dove A dynamically charged, abstract work, Red Angels highlights the power and athleticism of its four dancers through bold choreography, intense lighting, and a riveting score for electric violin. Created for New York City Ballet's Diamond Project in 1994, Red Angels was the first work created for NYCB by the late choreographer Ulysses Dove. An abstract work for four dancers, Red Angels is set to Richard Einhorn's "Maxwell's Demon", a solo for electric violin performed by innovative American violinist Mary Rowell.
New York City, NY; NYC