AILEY DANCES (TV)
Summary
This dance program features the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company performing works by its principal choreographer, Alvin Ailey, who revolutionized dance by infusing the formal discipline of classical ballet with the vibrant rhythms and cadences of African-American music and dance traditions. The program is hosted by former Ailey dancer Judith Jamison, who discusses the history of the company and her years with the group, and introduces each of the works presented. In the first piece performed, "Night Creature," inspired by Duke Ellington's "Concerto for Symphony Orchestra and Ellington Band," a group of men and women try both to attract and outshine each other, "each thinking that he or she will be the star." The next piece, "Cry," which originally was danced by Jamison, and is performed here by Donna Wood, was written by Ailey as a birthday present for his mother and is dedicated to "all black women everywhere, especially our mothers." It depicts the struggles of black women, and features vocal recordings by Laura Nero and Alice Coltrane. Following this, the company dances to Ralph Vaughan Williams's "The Lark Ascending," which Ailey created in an effort to "translate Scotland's misty mysterious elegance into a mysteriously elegant ballet." The group concludes the program with Ailey's signature piece, "Revelations," in which the beauty and power of gospel music reveals the black faith in God and self. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: A&E
- DATE: February 14, 1983 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:29:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0607
- GENRE: Dance
- SUBJECT HEADING: Dance; Ballet; African-Americans - Music
- SERIES RUN: A&E - TV, 1983
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Lipton … Executive Producer
- Lynn Klugman … Associate Producer
- Tim Kiley … Director
- Duke Ellington … Composer
- Ralph Vaughan Williams … Composer
- Alvin Ailey … Choreographer
- The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater … Dance Company
- Judith Jamison … Host
- Sarita Allen … Dancer
- Carl Bailey … Dancer
- Marilyn Banks … Dancer
- Barbara Beckles … Dancer
- April Berry … Dancer
- Roman Brooks … Dancer
- Kevin Brown … Dancer
- Ronald Brown … Dancer
- Debora Chase … Dancer
- Masazumi Chaya … Dancer
- Danny Clark … Dancer
- Gary DeLoatch … Dancer
- Patricia Dingle … Dancer
- Neisha Folkes … Dancer
- Ralph Glenmore … Dancer
- Mari Kajiwara … Dancer
- Deborah Manning … Dancer
- Keith McDaniel … Dancer
- Sharrell Mesh … Dancer
- Michihiko Oka … Dancer
- Nat Orr … Dancer
- Stanley Perryman … Dancer
- Danita Ridout … Dancer
- Maxine Sherman … Dancer
- Gregory Stewart … Dancer
- Dudley Williams … Dancer
- Donna Wood … Dancer
- Alice Coltrane
- Laura Nero