Friday nights opening performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater had my heart racing, with the rest of me close behind. Sitting in the historic Auditorium Theatre, I had a full view of the stage, feeling "up close and personal" with every movement.
I could almost feel the pulse of the dancers bodies as they sailed through the air like masters of "dynamic soaring," using invisible currents to travel across the stage with breathtaking grace. The only "wind" beneath them was the beat of their own hearts and the music that lifted their spirits, giving flight to their arms like the wings of birds. Their leg extensions seemed to elongate the very notes of the score, enhancing their immense artistic talent.
Truth be told, I was mesmerizedsimultaneously moved to tears, amused, and completely immersed in the magical spell of a new romance with the Ailey company.
The Alvin Ailey legacy was on full display as the company returned to its Chicago home on April 24th, marking its 57th engagement on this landmark stage. Across the weekend, Ailey offered two distinct programs, blending fresh premieres with the companys signature closing work, Revelations.
The performance also carried a deep local connection. Among the companys 32 dancers are several artists with ties to Chicago and the broader region: Solomon Dumas and Isaiah Day (Chicago), Donnie Duncan Jr. (Carrier Mills, IL), Renaldo Maurice (Gary, IN) and Sarah Daley-Perdomo (South Elgin, IL)
In a recent "Conversations with Kai" podcast interview with Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack and principal dancer Isaiah Day, the themes of movement, memory, and spirit took center stagereminding us why AILEY remains one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world.
This return marked a new chapter under the leadership of Alicia Graf Mack. A renowned dancer and educator, Graf Macks history with the company began under Judith Jamison and continued under Robert Battle. While she never danced under Alvin Aileys direct instruction, she is undeniably the rightful heir to his guidance.
Her vision honors the tradition that has made Ailey a cultural force for generations while introducing a "bodacious," experimental thrust that feels vital and new. Entering the Auditoriums grand hall felt like a prelude to a magical escape. The excitement was off the charts, with Chicago VIPs mingling with a spectrum of generationsfrom young pre-teens to grandparents eager to impart a piece of greatness to the leaders of tomorrow.
The Performance: From Intimacy to Power
From the moment the dancers stepped onto the stage, the energy in the theater shifted. The space took on the aura of the backdrop for each piece, whisking the audience away to another world. The two-hour performance moved from sexy and intimate to athletic and bold; from introspective and reflective to reverent and spiritual.
What stood out most was the dancers' ownership of the space. The presentation was never "flat"it represented life itself, with an ebb and flow of energy that ranged from high-octane power to soft, sweet vulnerability.
The program opened with Embrace, a contemporary piece that explored the yin and yang of human connection through popular songs by Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, Ed Sheeran, Desree, and Pink. The communication was clear, clean, and deeply familiar.
A Case of You followed as one of the most mesmerizing pieces of the evening. This duet moved me to tears, portraying a realm of emotion so deep it felt private. The dancers performed as if the audience wasn't there; we were merely voyeurs in awe of their love.
Revelations closed the night with the companys 1960 signature work. It was the moment I had awaited for months. Drawing from African American social and religious traditions, it is a visceral connection to faith and survival.
I initially went in wanting to see a "new" perspective on Revelations, but I quickly realized: it is perfect as it is. Each artistic director who has danced it knows this, and so the work continues to live and breathe through the dancers' commitment.
By the end of the night, there were so many standing ovations17? 27?that I lost count. If you missed this Chicago engagement, check their schedule and get on a plane. It is, quite simply, "otherworldly."
Opening night Cast
BLINK OF AN EYE --Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Jacquelin Harris, Miranda Quinn, Constance Stamatiou, Shawn Cusseaux, James Gilmer, Xavier Mack, Christopher Taylor
A CASE OF YOU-Samantha Figgins, Isaiah Day
EMBRACE-Patrick Coker, Caroline T. Dartey, Solomon Dumas, Ashley Kaylynn Green, Jacquelin Harris, Xavier Mack, Jesse Obremski, Miranda Quinn, Constance Stamatiou, Christopher R. Wilson
REVELATIONS- PILGRIM OF SORROW >I Been 'Buked -The Company;Didn'tMy Lord Deliver Daniel-DeAnthony Vaughan, Miranda Quinn, Corrin Rachelle Mitchell; Fix Me, Jesus-Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Christopher R. Wilson; TAKE ME TO THE WATER, Processional/Honor, Honor-Shawn Cusseaux, Ashley Kaylynn Green, Sebastian Garcia, Isaiah Day; Wade in the Water- Samantha Figgins, Renaldo Maurice, Constance Stamatiou; I Wanna Be Ready- Yannick Lebrun; MOVE, MEMBERS, MOVE>. Sinner Man-Christopher Taylor, Isaiah Day, Patrick Coker; The Day is Past and Gone-The Company; You May Run On-The Company; Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham-The Company
Visionary Kai EL´ Zabar has worked as CEO of arts organizations and as editor, writer and multimedia consultant accumulating a significant number of years in experience as an executive, journalist,publisher, public relations, media training, marketing, internal and external communications. Kai currently continues her life’s work as Editor-in-Chief Of Chicago News Weekly where she has resumed her column, “E NOTES.” She is ecstatic to be in the position to grace Chicago and the world with a publication that articulates the Black voice.