{"id":17733,"date":"2015-04-24T16:37:03","date_gmt":"2015-04-24T23:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=17733"},"modified":"2015-04-24T16:42:23","modified_gmt":"2015-04-24T23:42:23","slug":"alvin-ailey-dance-troupe-still-spiritually-exciting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/alvin-ailey-dance-troupe-still-spiritually-exciting\/","title":{"rendered":"Alvin Ailey dance troupe still spiritually exciting"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Woody’s [rating: 4.5]<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members recreate \u201cRevelations.\u201d Photo by Christopher Duggan.<\/p>\n

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Seven males in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater execute \u201cUprising.\u201d Photo by Paul Kolnik.<\/p>\n
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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members do \u201cSuspended Women.\u201d Photo by Paul Kolnik.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

I first saw Alvin Ailey’s choreography when I lived in New York City in 1960.<\/p>\n

That was two years after he\u2019d founded his troupe, one year after I\u2019d returned from post-undergrad stints in Mexico and Hollywood \u2014 a time for both of us to be experimenting with innovation.<\/p>\n

I embarked on a lifelong career as a journalist. He pursued his dream of coupling traditional African-American culture with modern dance.<\/p>\n

And he drew upon his memories of his Baptist church upbringing in Texas, integrating traditional spirituals, gospel and blues in his legendary work, \u201cRevelations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, 55 years later, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater\u2019s still performing that ballet, still celebrating spiritual exuberance.<\/p>\n

When I saw the Cal Performances offering at Zellerbach Hall the other night, it was as captivating, as viscerally exciting as ever.<\/p>\n

Maybe more so.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help notice it\u2019s aged without a wrinkle.<\/p>\n

Two other reprises were equally compelling \u2014 the percussive \u201cUprising,\u201d by Israeli-born Hofesh Shechter and Vex\u2019d, performed with surging testosterone by seven male dancers, and \u201cAfter the Rain,\u201d a pas de deux by Christopher Wheeldon that gracefully enhances music by Arvo P\u00e4rt.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuspended Women\u201d by Jacqulyn Buglisi, danced to music by Ravel, seemed flimsy by comparison with the others \u2014 almost like watching 14 ballerinas twirling atop a music box.<\/p>\n

“Uprising\u201d was intensity incarnate.<\/p>\n

It featured mock wrestling, macho slapping and punching, with guys appearing and disappearing into a shadowy mist.<\/p>\n

Riveting.<\/p>\n

I found it impossible to look away.<\/p>\n

But \u201cRevelations\u201d was the most fun to watch.<\/p>\n

The \u201cWade in the Water\u201d sequence was exceptionally eye-catching, with all its costuming and props white except for one blue sheet-like material that seamlessly simulated waves.<\/p>\n

Most rousing were the portions devoted to the familiar \u2014 \u201cSinner Man\u201d and \u201cRocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.\u201d<\/p>\n

The traveling troupe\u2019s performances run only through April 26. But if you can make it, do.<\/p>\n

In my book, it\u2019s the best dance troupe extant.<\/p>\n

A few folks must agree.<\/p>\n

The multi-racial New York City-based company has performed before 25 million people in 48 states, 71 countries and on six continents.<\/p>\n

Ailey created 79 ballets for the troupe but long wanted it to include works of others.<\/p>\n

It has.<\/p>\n

More than 235 pieces by more than 90 choreographers now help constitute a repertoire for the company, which after Ailey\u2019s death in 1989 was helmed first by Judith Jamison and now Robert Battle.<\/p>\n

Both would have made him proud.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Cal Performances dance dates include \u201cCinderella,\u201d by the Marlinsky Ballet and Orchestra, Oct. 1-4; and Twyla Tharp\u2019s 50th anniversary tour, Oct. 16-18. Information: www.calperfs.berkeley.edu\/<\/a> or (510) 642-9988.<\/em><\/p>\n

Contact Woody Weingarten at voodee@sbcglobal.net<\/a> or at\u00a0www.vitalitypress.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Woody’s [rating: 4.5] I first saw Alvin Ailey’s choreography when I lived in New York City in 1960. That was two years after he\u2019d founded his troupe, one year after…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17733","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-woody-weingarten"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"