Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the UK for the first time in six years to present ten works stretching across six programmes.
These will include five UK premières (Awakening by Robert Battle, Exodus by Rennie Harris, Four Corners by Ronald K Brown, LIFT by Aszure Barton and Open Door by Ronald K Brown), two UK premières (After the Rain pas de deux by Christopher Wheeldon and Piazzolla Caldera by Paul Taylor) and three classics by company founder Alvin Ailey (Cry, Night Creature and Revelations).
The ten-venue tour, to Plymouth, Birmingham, Bradford, Nottingham, Cardiff, Salford Quays, Southampton, Canterbury and Edinburgh, starts with a two-week, four-programme season at Sadler’s Wells, London on 6 September and concludes at Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on 19 October.
Ailey’s Artistic Director Robert Battle said, “I’m proud to continue Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s legacy of extensive international tours with my inaugural visit leading the Company’s extraordinary dancers through the United Kingdom.
"Presented by Dance Consortium six years after they so successfully last welcomed Ailey, we’ll share a diverse repertory of works including several UK premières. I’m excited for audiences old and new to experience the uplifting performances that have inspired people the world over, fulfilling Mr Ailey’s belief that ‘Dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people.”