Alvin
Ailey American Dance Theater's 50th Anniversary season launched
on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 with an Opening Night Gala hosted
by artistic director Judith Jamison and featuring Oprah Winfrey as
honorary chair and honored guest. Simin Allison and Herb Allison,
Kathryn Chenault and Kenneth Chenault, Katherine Farley and Jerry
I. Speyer, Agnes Hassell and Gerald Hassell, Patricia Laskawy and
Philip Laskawy, Joan Weill and Sandy Weill were Gala co-chairs.
The performance at New York City Center began with welcome remarks
by Judith Jamison, Board chair Joan Weill and Oprah Winfrey and the
premiere of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – A Golden Anniversary
Celebration, a short film commemorating the Company's rich 50-year
history. Echoes of Alvin, a piece d'occasion choreographed by
former AAADT member Christopher Huggins, featured talented students
of The Ailey School and represent the passing of the torch to the next
generation. Ailey's acclaimed dancers journeyed through
significant choreographic moments in Ailey history with performances
guided by narrator and former AAADT member Donna Wood Sanders. Ailey's
beloved Revelations rocked the crowd in a rousing finale with live
music sung by Darius de Haas, Lalah Hathaway, Ella Mitchell, Jessye
Norman, Billy Porter, and Richard Smallwood and conducted by Eric Reed.
Afterwards, over 1200 guests arrived for the gala party at the Sheraton
New York, for dinner and dancing in the Metropolitan Ballroom, transformed
into a sparkling landscape with decor inspired by the timeless grace
of Revelations. Ailey's dancers kicked off the season in
style, making a red carpet entrance wearing the limited edition Ailey
Movado Museum Dial Timepiece and with Ailey's female stars in
gowns provided by acclaimed fashion designers Badgley Mischka and Ailey's
men outfitted in suits by Sean John.
Proceeds from the gala will help to ensure the continued growth and
vitality of all of Ailey's important programs – from the
creation of inspiring new works to scholarships for talented young
dancers to innovative outreach programs.
