The eminent Alvin Ailey Dance Theater company hosts a prodigious opening night gala to kick off a four-week holiday season celebration.
The ceremony on November 30th was a memorable night like no other. The evening began with star-studded appearances from Bevy Smith, Larry Wilmore, Robert Battle, ‘Living Single’ Actress Erika Alexander, ‘Pose’ Actor, Ryan Jamaal Swain, and many more. Below are some interviews we’ve conducted with the nights’ attendees:
Starting with Artistic Director Robert Battle:
Alvin Ailey alum and Pose Actor, Ryan Jamaal Swain
Television Host of The View, Sunny Hostin
Film producer, writer, and comedian, Larry Wilmore
More of the interviews from the attendees can be found on our instagram and is linked @TheKnockturnal
Television host, Tamron Hall was named honorary chair at the Ailey event, and honoree Dennis Littlefield Sobel for her philanthropic work in social equity in the arts. Leading the heartfelt tribute, Robert Battle opened up the ceremony with words that thanked Denise for all that she has done, followed by a video tribute detailing more of her nearly two decades worth of accomplishments for the company and the dance space as a whole. The speech ended with Denise accepting her gift from Robert Battle as well as Company manager, Gregory Stuart.
Afterwards, the show began with performances led by the talented students of the Ailey school, who performed an excerpt from Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti’s Festa Barroca with esteemed dancer Constance Stamatiou, a romantic duet, “Softly, As I Leave You” from Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs, from dancers Jacquelin Harris and James Gilmer, an exceptional Jazz number from Alvin Ailey’s ‘Night Creature’, to Duke Ellington, artistic director’s Robert Battle Unfold sung live by Brandi Sutton, and lastly ended with Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece, Revelations.
The celebration continued at the Ziegfeld ballroom. The space was beautifully decorated with flowers and cutlery in true arts-entertainment style. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the lovely live music band Élan Artists. who really were the true staple of the evening. Guests communicated, greeted, and mingled all throughout the night with a delicious three-course meal and cocktail bar. The night began to kick-up a notch once the band began to perform numerous numbers of Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’, ‘All For You’, and dance classics like ‘Turn The Beat Around’, ‘Don’t Stop The Music’, ‘Uptown Funk’, and so much more.
To keep the holiday celebration going, the company also recently hosted an online dance celebration titled “Revelations Around The World”, where people from — all around the world can come together to learn the dance classic.
The company will also lead a National Tour to over 20 cities from February – May 2023. More information on that can be found on their site, www.alvinailey.org
