Few artistic celebrations this year will rival the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 50th anniversary season. For a half-century, the Ailey has acted as America's dance ambassador, bringing African American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world's stages. Alvin Ailey changed forever the perception of American dance; today the legacy continues under Judith Jamison's visionary direction. In addition to a range of mixed repertory and Ailey's unforgettable Revelations, the 2009 Berkeley residency features a special collaboration with Sweet Honey in the Rock. Performing live onstage (Mar 3 & 4 only) with the incomparable Ailey dancers, the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble will match their soulful harmonies to company member Hope Boykin's lyrical choreography set to an original Sweet Honey composition.
Program:
Program A (Mar 3 & 4): Boykin/Go in Grace, score performed live by Sweet Honey In The Rock (West Coast premiere); Faison/Suite Otis, set to works by Otis Redding; Ailey/Revelations
Program B: (Mar 5 & 7 mat): Anniversary Highlights, featuring excerpts from Ailey's Blues Suite, Streams, Choral Dances, Mary Lou's Mass, The Lark Ascending, Hidden Rites, Night Creature, Cry, Phases, Landscape, For "Bird" — With Love, Caverna Magica, Opus McShann; Ailey/Revelations
Program C: (Mar 6, 7 eve, & 8): Bigonzetti/Festa Barocca, set to music by Handel (West Coast premiere); van Manen/Solo, set to music by J.S. Bach; Ailey/Revelations
These performances made possible, in part, by Bank of America
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Program Notes
Program notes are available online. [PDF]
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Press
The San Francisco Chronicle looks at the 50-year history of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and its founder, who died in 1989 but lives on in the innovative productions of his namesake company. Read the entire article
Read the Chronicle's article on AileyCamp
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Video
( QuickTime Player)
Watch "50 Years of Dance," an interview with Judith Jamison and "Dance, Dance, Revelations," an excerpt from Revelations performed on ABC's Good Morning America
Watch the ABC7 news video on Ailey's annual visit to Cal Performances. (to view, choose Entertainment from the list of topics)
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Podcast
Our on-going podcast series features an 2007 exclusive interview with Renee Robinson, veteran Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater member. She talks about the high points in her career and the works she and the company performed in 2007 in honor of her exceptional career. (Length: 17:35)
( MP3 Format)
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Education/Community Events
Artist Talk: Hope Boykin and Carol Maillard
Go In Grace: An Artistic Collaboration by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Sweet Honey in the Rock
Wed, Mar 4, 12-1 pm
Zellerbach Hall
Free and open to the public
Hope Boykin of the Ailey company and Carol Maillard of Sweet Honey in the Rock discuss their collaborative work, Go In Grace. The first joint project of these two groups that have always celebrated African American culture marks the 50th anniversary season of the Ailey company and the 35th year for Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Course with Osher Life Long Learning Institute
Mar 5, 3:30-5 pm, Room 150, University Hall
Speaker TBD from AAADT
Cal Performances continues its partnership with the Osher Life Long Learning Institute with two courses, Talking about Classical Music and Talking about Dance, centered around performances on Cal Performances' 2008-09 season. Together with acclaimed scholars and artists, Robert Cole, director of Cal Performances, will host the following classes offered in conjunction with six concerts of music and six dance performances. Visit www.olli.berkeley.edu or call 510.642.9934 for more information and registration.
 Flyer [pdf]
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Donor Event
Friends Appreciation Night
Tue, Mar 3, 2008
Zellerbach Hall Mezzanine
(Donors of $300+ by invitation only)
Join us on the mezzanine during intermission for a complimentary glass of wine and a quick bite to eat.
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Parking Alerts: Parking may be a problem on campus for the Thurs & Sat, Mar 5 & 7, performance due to Cal Women's Basketball games. Please see our Parking Alert section for more information.
Artists links: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater site
Sweet Honey in the Rock site
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Purchase Tickets
| Tue, Mar 3, 8 pm | Sold Out | 
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| Wed, Mar 4, 8 pm | Sold Out |
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| Thu, Mar 5, 8 pm |  |
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| Fri, Mar 6, 8 pm | |
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| Sat, Mar 7, 2 pm | Sold Out |
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| Sat, Mar 7, 8 pm | |
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| Sun, Mar 8, 3 pm | |
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* Sold Out — please contact our Ticket Office at 510.642.9988 for availability. Or be added to our Notification List.
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Venue: Zellerbach Hall A
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