We Were Rockin' Our Souls at the Center!

Dance classes at Revelations Celebration on the Arts Plaza.
Photo by Dawson Photography.

Segerstrom Center’s welcome to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater began on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. with a Revelations Celebration on the Arts Plaza. The free event included dance classes taught by the Ailey’s National Director of AileyCamp/Spokesperson & Master Teacher for Arts in Education Nasha Thomas-Schmitt and former Principal Dancer Renee Robinson, a performance by The Spirit Chorale of Los Angeles, Center Teaching Artist and master storyteller Victoria Burnett, the Imagination Playground, visual arts demonstrations, street mural chalk drawing and food trucks. 

The Spirit Chorale of Los Angeles at Revelations Celebration
on the Arts Plaza. Photo by Dawson Photography.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater opens on Wednesday, March 26 with a special Discover Ailey performance. Artistic Director Robert Battle will host the evening. He’ll discuss the history and development of the Ailey company and talk about the artistic vision and legacy that the company is creating in the world dance scene. The company will dance Bill T. Jones’ modern dance classic D-Man in the Waters (Part I) and Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece Revelations. Following the performance, Mr. Battle will introduce the dancers to the audience. Tickets are just $29. 

Revelations Celebration the Arts Plaza. Photo by Dawson Photography.

Full performances are March 27 – 30. There will be free Preview Talks one hour before each performance. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Let Us Introduce You to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with Artistic Director Robert Battle
 and Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya. Photo by Andrew Eccles.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is presenting a special Discover Ailey performance on Wednesday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle will host the evening. He’ll discuss the history and development of the Ailey company and talk about the artistic vision and legacy that the company is creating in the world dance scene. The company will dance Bill T. Jones’ modern dance classic D-Man in the Waters (Part I) and Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece Revelations – a must-see for anyone who wants to discover the heart, and soul, the energy and spirit of the Ailey, which has been hailed as an American cultural treasure. Following the performance, Mr. Battle will introduce the dancers to the audience. 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  Artistic Director Robert Battle.
Photo by Andrew Eccles

All seats are $29 for this special performance. For information and to purchase tickets to other performance during the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater engagement at the Center from March 27 – 30, click here.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Gert Krautbauer.

Sneak Peek Into Next Season

The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall was filled to near capacity on Monday evening (August 12th) with an enthusiastic audience eager to learn more about the 2013-2014 lineup of shows coming to the Center. 

Irish band Humble Hooligans.

As guests made their way to their seats, local Irish band the Humble Hooligans played spirited Celtic music as an homage to Broadway’s 2013 Tony® Award-winner ONCE, which comes to the Center next season. 

Executive Vice President Judy Morr.

Julia McLellan of The Wizard of Oz performs "Over the Rainbow."

Ayrin Mackie performing "Red Shoe Blues."

During the special one-hour event, co-hosts Bob Bucci from Broadway Across America and Segerstrom Center Executive Vice President Judy Morr shared highlights of next season, complete with live performances from casts of The Wizard of Oz, Jersey Boys and Beauty and the Beast. 

Hilary Maiberger of Beauty and the Beast sings "A Change in Me."

Kristin Stewart performs "Beauty and the Beast." 

Jersey Boys interview with Lauren Decierdo and Courter Simmons. Bob Bucci on the far right.

Video shout-outs to Costa Mesa Broadway fans came from New York cast members of Evita and CHICAGO. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater represented the Center’s International Dance Series with a performance of Robert Battle’s Takademe featuring dancer Daphne Lee. 

Daphne Lee of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Bob Bucci in Priscilla Queen of the Desert cupcake costume.

To really embrace the theme of the evening, Bucci was the frosting on the Broadway cake when he donned a delicious cupcake costume courtesy of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. 

To learn more about the 2013-2014 season, please visit: http://www.scfta.org/seasontickets.

All photos by Doug Gifford.

The Center Receives Santa Ana Commendation

Terry Dwyer receiving special commendation from Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido presented Center President Terry Dwyer with a special Award of Recognition at the May 7 City Council meeting. In his remarks, Mayor Pulido expressed thanks on behalf of the city for the Center’s contributions to the schools, students, educators and residents of Santa Ana. Many schools and students in Santa Ana have benefited from a range of programs offered by the Center, including Arts Teach, Summer at the Center and special events conducted by the casts of the Trey McIntyre Project, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In the Heights and STOMP. 

I Am A Dancer: Michael Francis McBride

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company member Michael Francis McBride shares his passion and reason for pursuing dance. This video is part of the "Hello, I Am A Dancer" project, an ongoing series featuring dancers who live in or visit South Florida. 

To learn more about Michael Francis McBride and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, please visit www.AlvinAiley.org. 

CELEBRATE NATIONAL DANCE WEEK 
April 26 – May 5 
Join us during National Dance Week for a special posting in Center Scene by a noted artistic director, choreographer or expert. 

To read recent guest posts, please click the names:

• Helgi Tomasson, artistic director and principal choreographer of San Francisco Ballet
• Trey McIntyre, artistic director of Trey McIntyre Project
• Boris Eifman, artistic director of Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg
• Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
• Elizabeth Kaye, author of American Ballet Theatre: A Twenty-Five Year Perspective

Guest Blogger: Robert Battle of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

“All that is important is this one moment in movement. 

Make the moment important, vital and worth living. 

Do not let it slip away unnoticed and unused.” 

– Martha Graham

CELEBRATE NATIONAL DANCE WEEK 
April 26 – May 5 
Join us during National Dance Week for a special posting in Center Scene by a noted artistic director, choreographer or expert. 

AAADT's Linda Celese Sims, Alicia Graf Mack and Glenn Allen Sims
in Alvin Ailey's Revelations © Andrew Eccles

Artistic Director Robert Battle
© Andrew Eccles

By Robert Battle
Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
www.AlvinAiley.org

It’s important to keep the past of the Ailey company alive, because the past is the present. I don’t see any distance between then and now. When I think about a great work of art, it endures, and it is timeless. If it was true then, then it is true now, and it speaks to the audience as it speaks to me. The past is not a burden; it’s the reason why we are here in the first place, so I embrace this rich history of this marvelous company. How do I achieve that? By always challenging and engaging the audience, challenging and engaging the dancers, and finding work that falls in line with that mission. 

AAADT's Antonio Douthit and Alicia Graf Mack
in Paul Taylor's Arden Court © Andrew Eccles

Incorporating the arts in education is also essential. Growing up in Miami, I had singing classes, a music teacher, and I learned to write music in school. We know the arts make a difference in young peoples’ lives. The fact that the Ailey programs are able to make a positive impact on the community is very important to me and the Company. We step off the stage and into the communities we serve. Mr. Ailey said he believed that “dance came from the people and should always be delivered back to the people.” Judith Jamison carried that torch, and now I carry it. I try to do things that come from my own instinct and heart, and that’s how I achieve it.

Allie meets Ailey

KTLA feature reporter and producer Allie Mac Kay met, interviewed and even did a few steps with dancer/choreographer Matthew Rushing (pictured: far right) and members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater this morning. Mac Kay and her crew were here for live remotes during the KTLA Morning News and spoke to Rushing about his work and the Ailey. The dancers performed an excerpt from his piece, “Uptown,” that is featured in the Company’s engagement at the Center March 2-7. You’ll be able to catch the segments on KTLA.com.

Having "Revelations" at Santa Ana High School

Students in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater residency at Santa Ana High School demonstrated their talents as dancers and choreographers on Thursday, February 4. Click above to see the video. The week-long residency was held in conjunction with the Ailey’s engagement here March 2-7 and was underwritten by J.P. Morgan/Chase. Nasha Thomas-Schmitt, Co-Director, Arts in Education & Community Programs and National Director of AileyCamp, explained to guests what the kids associated with dance, emotionally, intellectually and physically, and directed a demonstration of their progress. Attending was Santa Ana Unified School District Superintendent Jane Russo, Santa Ana High Principal Julie Infante and Myeisha Gamino and Carla James from J.P. Morgan/Chase. A second residency was also held last week at Lathrop Intermediate School in Santa Ana.

Alvin Ailey on SYTYCD

Watch Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's appearance tonight (Wednesday) on So You Think You Can Dance on the FOX network. Company dancers Clifton Brown, Linda Celeste Sims (pictured above) and Constance Stamatiou will perform an excerpt from Ulysses Dove's Espisodes. And be sure to catch Alvin Ailey when they visit the Center March 2-7, 2010. (Photo credit: Andrew Eccles.)