Amos J. Machanic Jr., Clifton Brown and A. Thomas in Alvin Ailey's 'Memoria.' | Photo: Andrew Eccles
Last Friday, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater began a 10-day run at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles as part of the Glorya Kaufman dance series.
CalArts students Jordan Bell—also known as Lexi Gibbons (BFA 3)—and Michael Tomlin III (BFA 3) have been chosen to dance with the Alvin Ailey dancers, and are two of only 22 students who were chosen to perform with the theater at the Music Center.
The two will dance in Memoria, a 1979 work choreographed by Ailey. Set to Keith Jarrett’s music, the ballet is structured in two parts: “In Memory” and “In Celebration.” Ailey dedicated the piece to his friend and choreographer Joyce Trisler, who died prematurely the same year that Ailey created the piece.
While there are several programs to choose from during the Music Center run, including three company premieres, the troupe will present the piece Revelations (1960), choreographed by Ailey, at each performance to commemorate the work’s 50th anniversary.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center
Los Angeles
April 8-17
Tickets: $25-105