Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the New York City Center stage for its annual, five-week holiday engagement, celebrating Legacy in Motion. The program includes five world premieres. 

Fredrick Earl Mosley’s Embrace explores the connection and fragility of human relationships to music by Adele, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran, and many others. Maija García’s Jazz Island brings an Afro-Caribbean folktale to life, inspired by a story by Geoffrey Holder. Matthew Neenan’s Difference Between showcases his signature abandon and playfulness. Jamar Roberts’ Song of the Anchorite reimagines Alvin Ailey’s 1961 ballet Hermit Songs for contemporary times. The Holy Blues taps into the blues and gospel to connect the sacred and secular, choreographed by Urban Bush Women’s Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, in collaboration with Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro.  

This season also features the company premiere of Medhi Walerski’s Blink of an Eye, an explosive display of precision originally choreographed for Nederlands Dans Theater; and a new production of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison’s moving duet, A Case of You, performed to Diana Krall’s sultry rendition of Joni Mitchell’s classic song. 

Don’t miss these debut works along with returning favorites: Ronald K. Brown’s pulse-pounding Grace, Alonzo King’s thrilling Following the Subtle Current Upstream, and Alvin Ailey’s masterpieces Cry and Revelations, plus much more.

Select performances will be accompanied by live music. 

Family-friendly matinees are held on Saturdays at 2pm.