By: Sherifat A. Mohammed 

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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be returning to Atlanta in 2025. There will be six incredible performances starting on February 12th-16th, 2025. For their 2025 season, they will be celebrating the life and legacy of their Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, who passed away on November 9, 2024. 

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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) is one of the most influential and celebrated cultural institutions in the world. Since its founding in 1958, the company has been a trailblazer in modern dance, championing African American cultural expression while creating a universal language of movement that resonates across borders. Through groundbreaking performances, innovative choreography, and transformative outreach programs, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has redefined the landscape of American dance.

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Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), a Texas-born choreographer and dancer, founded the company with a mission to celebrate the richness of African American culture and the human experience through dance. Ailey’s vision was rooted in the belief that dance could serve as a powerful medium for storytelling, self-expression, and social commentary.

The company's first performance, on March 30, 1958, at New York City's 92nd Street Y, featured Ailey's iconic work Blues Suite. The piece showcased the deeply emotional and spiritual roots of African American heritage, setting the tone for the company's enduring focus on storytelling through movement.

After Ailey’s death in 1989, Judith Jamison, a legendary dancer and longtime member of the company, took the helm as artistic director. Under her leadership, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater expanded its repertoire, embracing diverse voices and styles while remaining true to its roots. Jamison also founded Ailey II, a junior company that nurtures emerging talent and provides a platform for young dancers to develop their craft.

During her tenure, the company earned numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, and continued to tour extensively, solidifying its reputation as a global ambassador for American culture. 

Here are list of the performances that their exceptional dancers will be premiering: 

Sacred Songs by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, which reimagines several spirituals used in the original 1960 premiere of Revelations that were later omitted when the piece was edited into the current version

Finding Free by Hope Boykin, former Company member's exploration of personal freedoms in the world set to jazz and gospel-influenced contemporary music 

Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch, inspired by a question posed by 13th century theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”

Al-Andalus Blues by Jamar Roberts (former Ailey dancer), features music from Roberta Flack/Miles Davis and evokes the golden age of northern African Moors who flourished in present-day Spain prior to the Christian Reconquista.

25th Anniversary Staging of Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, where the secular and sacred meet in a tour-de-force connecting African and American dance

New production of Elisa Monte's Treading, a sculptural, mesmerizing duet that creates mystery and sensuality 

On February 12 at 7:30pm there will be a College Night performance where college students will be able to access $15 tickets or two tickets for $25 plus fees using promo code COLLEGE. 

You can find tickets and more information on their website: https://www.ailey.org/series/ailey-atlanta or https://www.foxtheatre.org/

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