America’s finest young dancers are in the UK for the first time in over a decade, as inspirational Ailey 2 comes to Mayflower Theatre on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 September.
Ailey 2, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this season, is known for bringing together the creative vision of exceptional choreographers – with the spirit, energy and talent of the next generation of dance artists.
The result is captivating performances of grace, strength and soul, shot through with the unique Ailey spirit.
The company’s new artistic director Francesca Harper has put together an exhilarating repertoire featuring four works, excerpts from her own Freedom Series, William Forsythe’s Enemy in the Figure, The Hunt – choreographed by Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater – and Revelations¸ Alvin Ailey’s 1960 masterwork and a signature piece of all the Ailey companies.
“What’s so exciting about Ailey 2 is that we are catching the enthusiasm and raw talent of the dancers at the beginning of their careers,” says Francesca.
“There’s such a rich history to the company of fostering and nourishing young talented artists, and Ailey 2 gives them the opportunity for that talent to flourish.
“Revelations is Mr Ailey’s most famous work and it’s a masterpiece. It reflects the cultural heritage of the African American community and Mr Ailey’s blood memories. “It embodies this reverent grace and spiritual elation.”
Revelations was choreographed by Ailey when he was just 29 years old.
A life-changing work, it has been seen by more than 23 million people in 71 countries, more than any other modern dance work.
Using African American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Revelations explores the deepest reaches of the soul.
“I thought it was so important to bring Forsythe’s work into the company because he was one of my mentors when I left New York and it helps the dancers understand who I am as an artist,” continues Francesca.
“Enemy in the Figure was inspired by Thom Willems’ percussive and electronic score. William had this sense of abstract storytelling where he would take his personal stories and deconstruct them.
“It’s a powerful work and will leave the audience on the edge of their seats.
Robert Battle’s 2001 classic, The Hunt, is a primal ritual with a distinctly urban feel fuelled by a thundering percussion soundtrack by Les Tambours du Bronx.
“I asked Robert if we could have women perform in it as well, so we are the first company within the Ailey organisation to have The Hunt performed by an all-female cast,” adds Francesca.
“It’s a very athletic work, and is set to really powerful music. Robert was inspired by modern sports and the rituals of gladiators, so it has this very ominous and threatening energy.
“For the women to be as ferocious and athletic as the men is really exciting and an important statement.”
Francesca’s own work, Freedom Series, was inspired by her taking up the post of Ailey 2 artistic director and her emotional responses to returning to the Alvin Ailey family– she trained at The Ailey School, where her mother Denise Jefferson was director.
“Freedom Series carries so much weight for me,” she says. “I have so many memories that live in the building and this organisation. I created a series of vignettes that imagine this hybridity, where these memories strive to influence my vision of the future.
“It examines identity and community, and being an African American woman as well as the diversity that Alvin embraced.
“As a young African American girl, I just didn’t see people like myself doing the things and performing the way that I dreamt of.
“So for us to reach young people, who may have dreams of dancing or becoming involved in the arts in some other capacity, is so important.
“It can change lives.”
Tickets for Ailey 2 (22 and 23 September 2023) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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