Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle,
Ailey’s 2013-14 Season at New York City Center kicked off December 4th with
an Opening Night Gala Benefit hosted by Honorary Co-Chair Gabrielle
Union. The event’s co-chairs were Simin Allison & in memory,
Herb Allison, Kathryn & Kenneth Chenault, Daria L. Foster & Erich J.
Wallach, Agnes & Gerald Hassell, Debra L. Lee, and Joan & Sandy
Weill. The evening helped raise over $2.4 million for the creation
of new works and Alvin Ailey’s extensive educational programs for young people,
including AileyCamp and scholarships to The Ailey School.
The curtain went up with an exhilarating
company premiere of Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, a ballet filled with layered, beautiful
dancing, astonishing lifts and a luminous set. The Ailey company premiere,
made possible with generous support of New York City Center, marks the
first time a work by this multi award-winning British choreographer appears in
the Ailey repertory. The gala performance concluded with Alvin Ailey’s timeless
masterpiece, Revelations which was accompanied by live
music.
The celebration continued at the gala
party in the Hilton New York’s Grand Ballroom with Ailey’s Board of Trustees led
by Chair Joan Weill and President Daria L. Wallach, and 1,000
guests including model’s Joan Smalls and Carolyn Murphy, actor
Taye Diggs, chef Marcus Samuelsson, actor/singer Tristan “Mack
Wilds”, opera star Jessye Norman, Elaine Wynn of Wynn Resorts
and many more who joined in dinner and dancing with the stars of Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater.
Ailey’s exciting season, the
25th since the passing of legendary founder Alvin Ailey, continues
throughout the holidays in New York, then tours 23 cities across North America
beginning in February. For more information visit www.alvinailey.org.
Images provided by Alvin Ailey Press Room
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