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65TH Anniversary United States Tour Shares Inspiring Performances at
The Kennedy Center through February 11, where
Seven of Ailey’s Acclaimed Dancers Have DMV-Area Roots

 On February 7, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s annual Washington, D.C. Gala Benefitmarked the Company’s week-long engagement at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during Black History Month. Approximately 550 guests raised over $1.2 million in support of Ailey’s Washington, D.C. area programs, including the creation of new works, Ailey’s educational programs for young people, and scholarships for local students to attend The Ailey School in New York City.

The gala co-chairs were Lyndon K. Boozer, Sela Thompson Collins, Lisa Warner Wardell, and Yelberton R. Watkins; and Vice Chairs: Joyce Brayboy, Michael Collins, Lawrence Duncan III, Anthony A. Lewis, Tanya Leah Lombard, John Mason, Jennifer M. Stewart, Nicole Venable, and Katharine Weymouth. The evening was made possible by a generous grant from Gala Sponsor Southern Company and the Corporate Chair was Southern Company’s President & CEO, Chris Womack.

Following a dinner in the Nations Gallery for major benefactors, the performance was introduced by remarks from Southern Company’s Bryan Anderson and Board Member and gala co-chair Sela Thompson Collins. Ailey’s extraordinary dancers dazzled audiences with Amy Hall Garner’s world premiere of CENTURY, a celebration of life, resilience and joy inspired by her grandfather’s 100th birthday; Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish’s Me, Myself and You, a dreamlike duet accompanied with live vocals by acclaimed soprano Brandie Sutton and music by Damien Sneed; and culminated with Alvin Ailey’s timeless masterpiece, Revelations. 

A testament to Ailey’s presence in D.C., seven members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater have roots in the area, including: Jermaine Terry, Samantha Figgins, Michael Jackson, Jr, Corrin Rachelle Mitchell, Miranda Quinn, Alisha Rena Peek and Xavier Mack.

The festive celebration continued with a post-performance soiree in the Nation’s Gallery featuring music by DJ Tye. Special guests from the worlds of business, philanthropy, politics, and entertainment joined Executive Director Bennett Rink, Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members including Ailey Board Chair Daria L. Wallach, Board President Anthony Kendall, Honorary Trustee Gina Adams, Ailey Board Members Sela Thompson Collins, Anthony A. Lewis, Jack Pitts, Danielle Robinson, Edna Kane Williams, and DeJuan Wilson, The Ailey School Co-Director Melanie Person, Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch, Governor Wes Moore, Congresspeople Lisa Blunt Rochester and Shontel Brown, Jonathan Capehart, Sanders Adu, Steve Benjamin, Stoney Burke, Robert Chiappetta and Nikki Clifton, Alix Dejean, Marie Sylla Dixon, Juleanna Glover, Matt Indre, Lance Mangum, Ann Walker Marchant, Clint Odom, Nichole Reynolds, Bob Russell, Donte Smalls, Jeanne Wolak, Marcia L. Fudge, Reginald “Reggie” Van Lee, Angela Rye, Candiace Dillard Bassett and more. The post-performance party was produced by Events by André Wells.

The Company’s annual D.C. engagement through Sunday, February 11 is part of the 65th Anniversary 21-city United States Tour and features world premieres by Amy Hall Garner and Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, new productions by Alonzo King, Jamar Roberts, Ronald K. Brown and Hans van Manen, and a special Ailey Classics program with highlights of Mr. Ailey’s best-loved ballets. Each performance will close with Ailey’s acclaimed masterpiece, Revelations.

Off stage, Ailey is helping inspire the next generation through community and educational offerings in conjunction with the Kennedy Center during the annual engagement: throughout the week, a variety of master classes are being offered and led by Ailey’s artists including two Duke Ellington School of the Arts alumni, Michael Jackson, Jr., and DC native, Samantha Figgins, as well as Alisha Rena Peek from Upper Marlboro; a school-time performance on Friday, February 9 at 11am will introduce students to the magic of Aileyand the must-see American masterpiece Revelations; and a FREE Revelations Celebration Community Workshop on Saturday, February 10 from 3:30-5pm, led by former Ailey dancer and Arts In Education’s Master Teacher Nasha Thomas (The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage). In partnership with Duke Ellington School of the Arts during their 50th anniversary, the Ailey Experience Tour celebrates Ailey & Ellington with special workshops for ages 11 and up on February 24th and 25th. Earlier this year, DMV area students had the opportunity to attend local auditions for The Ailey School’s renowned training programs (while video auditions are still being accepted).

For further information on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s tour and the organization’s educational and training programs, visit www.alvinailey.org. For additional press materials, please visit pressroom.alvinailey.org.

Southern Company is the proud sponsor of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Washington, D.C. Gala Benefit.

Bank of America is Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s North American Tour Sponsor.

The 2023 National Tour is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Photo Credits: Tony Powell