Legacy in Motion: Experience Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Beyond the $2 Ticket

In 1958, a New York audience witnessed the debut of Alvin Ailey and Company for only $2 a ticket, unaware that this group of Black modern dancers were embarking on a journey toward a major legacy. Founder Alvin Ailey used dance to confront racial barriers in a segregated America, drawing on “blood memories” (moments from his childhood) to challenge the Eurocentric standards of concert dance. Ailey created a vital realm for Black dancers and choreographers to take up rightful space in the world of dance — famously noting, “Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy.”

To witness his journey in motion, explore the eight-part documentary “Portrait of Ailey,” which charts the course of his life with rare archival performance footage, interviews and historical images.

AILEY: The Next Era

Marking the company’s 13th appearance at Northrop, the two-night run provides the Twin Cities a special glimpse into AILEY’s next era under the new leadership of Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack. After serving as both the first Black dean and the youngest director of dance at Juilliard, where she expanded curriculum and inclusion while promoting holistic well-being, Graf Mack transitioned into her role at AILEY in July 2025, becoming only the fourth artistic director in the company’s nearly 70-year history.

To learn more about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s history and next era of forging fresh creative paths, attend an in-person Performance Preview ahead of Sunday’s show on April 19 at 1 p.m. in Northrop’s Best Buy Theater. Additionally, a Community Class led by company dancer Yannick Lebrun will be held at TU Dance Center on Saturday, April 18 from 10-11:30 a.m. — thanks to a partnership between Northrop and TU Dance.

Revelatory Dance

While the April 18 and 19 repertory at Northrop will differ, these works are united through themes of resilience, joy, inspiration and perhaps most importantly a shared performance of the transcendent masterpiece “Revelations” to conclude both programs. “Revelations” remains Alvin Ailey’s most popular work to date, serving as a signature piece for more than 65 years. 

Premiered in 1960, “Revelations” was originally over an hour long, consisting of 16 sections, a live vocal chorus and two soloists. Eventually, the piece was trimmed down to become the three-part suite exploring African American cultural heritage through spirituals, gospel and blues music that audiences know and love today. “Revelations” has been presented at the White House, the Olympics Opening Ceremonies, an extensive government-sponsored international tour and more — solidifying its legacy as a pivotal treasure of both dance and Black American cultural history.

April 18 Program

With differing programs, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performances offer the unique chance for audiences to experience up to eight different choreographers’ works in the span of just two days. Kicking off the company’s performance on April 18th, “Jazz Island” marks Minneapolis icon Maija García’s first work for the company. The folk tale-inspired piece weaves ancestral rhythms, divine intervention and an original jazz score by Etienne Charles to explore love's power within the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Another AILEY season debut, the prolific Matthew Neenan’s “Difference Between” examines grief and love while showcasing his signature wild abandon and gestural playfulness, set to a beautifully raw score by Heather Christian. Rounding out the unique April 18 repertoire is “Song of the Anchorite” by former AILEY dancer Jamar Roberts. This earthly and spiritual work revisits Alvin Ailey’s 1961 solo “Hermit Songs,” his reaction to a set of medieval religious texts and the haunting song cycle by Samuel Barber that they inspired, danced to jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen's interpretation of a Maurice Ravel adagio.

April 19 Program

Putting the April 19th program into motion is “The Holy Blues,” a collaboration between Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro. Inspired by Central and West African ritual dance and The Door of No Return (the final exit point for enslaved Africans before boarding ships to the United States), “The Holy Blues” honors the lived experience of past generations and touches on the human experience at large, supported by gospel and blues music. “Blink of an Eye” by Medhi Walerski reflects the fleeting nature of life — how everything can change, disappear or be born again in just a blink. Set to J.S. Bach’s timeless violin sonatas and partita, Walerski’s work promises both raw athleticism and mesmerizing vulnerability. Next, Judith Jamison’s show-stopping sensual duet “A Case of You” evokes an intense emotional rollercoaster of a couple madly in love. Deriving its name from (and performed on recording by Diana Krall to) the Joni Mitchell song, “A Case of You,” Jamison’s enduring piece invites audiences to fall in love again and again.