Revelations - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

“Watching Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater can change your life. If that sounds like a slogan, it's truth in advertising." -The New York Times Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Alvin Ailey's Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. More than just a popular dance work, it has become a cultural treasure, beloved by generations of fans. Seeing Revelations for the first time or the hundredth can be a transcendent experience, with audiences cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats from the opening notes of the plaintive "I Been 'Buked" to the rousing "Wade in the Water" and the triumphant finale, "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham." Ailey said that one of America's richest treasures was the African-American cultural heritage-"sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful." This enduring classic is a tribute to that tradition, born out of the choreographer's "blood memories" of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church. But since its premiere in 1960, the ballet has been performed continuously around the globe, transcending barriers of faith and nationality, and appealing to universal emotions, making it the most widely-seen modern dance work in the world. ________ Repertory programs to include Revelations Truly great dance can be a window into the heart and soul, revealing our deepest selves. Let Ailey take you on a path of discovery. We'll show you ourselves through our movement and help you see yourself in our stories. Darrell Grand Moultrie's Ounce of Faith is an exuberant expression of what's possible when a young person is encouraged to dream. Jamar Roberts' Ode reflects on the beauty and fragility of life in a time of growing gun violence. And Greenwood, a new commission from Donald Byrd, shines a light on the 1921 attack by a white mob that destroyed an affluent black neighborhood in Tulsa, OK. Company premieres and new productions round out the season, along with returning audience favorites including Mr. Ailey's timeless classic Revelations. Subscribe to The Kennedy Center! http://bit.ly/2gNFrtb