Ailey 2: collective talent that augurs well for the future of dance

Ailey 2 in Alvin Ailey's Revelations

Ailey 2 in Robert Battle's The Hunt

Ailey 2 in Francesca Harper's Freedom Series

Ailey 2's Kali Marie Oliver and Andrew Bryant in Revelations

Alfred L. Jordan II, Tamia Strickland and Maggy van den Heuvel in Revelations

By Graham Watts, 11 October 2023

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“The dancers appeared to be driven along by another thunderous and percussive score”

Reviewed at Theatre Royal, Norwich on 6 October 2023

Revelations (Alvin Ailey)

The Hunt (Robert Battle)

Freedom Series (Francesca Harper)

Enemy in the Figure (William Forsythe)

Ailey II

Andrew Bryant, Dancer

Spencer Everett, Dancer

Patrick Gamble, Dancer

Corinth Moulterie, Dancer

Jaryd Farcon, Dancer

Ailey II dancers shine in ambitious mixed bill at the Joyce Theater

Carla Escoda, 18th March

In their penultimate stop on a US tour, Ailey's second company produced exceptional performances in an Ailey classic and four handsome new works.

****1

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Atlanta: simply spellbinding

Rebecca Ehrhardt, 15th February

At the start of an ambitious cross-country tour, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is transcendent at Atlanta's historic Fox Theatre.

*****

AAADT at New York City Center: a deliriously happy audience

Ivy Lin, 4th December

Alvin Ailey American Dancer Theater is in magnificent form for its New York City Center season. Never overselling, simply moving magically.

*****

Alvin Ailey Gala is fun but somewhat unadventurous

Ivy Lin, 4th December

There is no modern dance troupe as likeable as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Their dancers are warm, exciting and beautiful to watch and they never fail to please audiences.

****1

Circling Ailey

Carla Escoda, 20th November

A superb, though brief, performance by the Ailey II troupe, puzzlingly marooned in a theater away from a fabulous collection of art that situates Alvin Ailey in the American cultural landscape.

***11

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: two vibrant, dynamic programmes

Graham Watts, 7th September

Alvin Ailey's company return to London's Sadler's Wells on top form, with well-loved revivals and fresh, new works.

****1

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Graham Watts

Graham Watts is a freelance dance writer and critic writing regularly for Dancing Times, Dance Europe, Danza Europa, and many more publications. He regularly writes features for Sadler’s Wells, London Coliseum and La Scala. Chairman of the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in the United Kingdom and of the UK National Dance Awards he has interviewed many of the greatest names in dance including Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Boris Eifman, Alexei Ratmansky, Andris Liepa, Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley and Dame Gillian Lynne. When not involved in dance Graham is a keen fencer, and has captained the British Sabre team.