TAKADEME: A SAVVY DECONSTRUCTION OF  INDIAN KATHAK DANCE RHYTHMS

 

By Mabel Pais

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, America’s beloved cultural ambassador to the world, graces the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) stage once again, May 6-8, 2022. The performances honor the Mother’s Day weekend.

The program of Ailey’s extraordinary dancers celebrates Artistic Director Robert Battle’s 10th anniversary, along with a diverse repertory of premieres, timeless favorites, and Ailey’s must-see American masterpiece “Revelations.” Battle’s visionary leadership has moved the company into a seventh decade.

“Alvin Ailey’s vision opened the door for generations of artists to use dance to inspire, unite, and enlighten,” stated Artistic Director Robert Battle. “I am deeply humbled to have led this seminal Company for a decade, joined by incomparable dancers and choreographers on a journey of discovery that extends from the powerful works of our founder to the important voices of today—an ongoing dance dialogue that shines a light on the strength and resilience of our common humanity around the world.”

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER @ NJPAC

FRIDAY, MAY 6 at 8PM- Hosted by SAVION GLOVER

SATURDAY, MAY 7 at 8PM

SUNDAY, MAY 8 at 3PM

PROGRAM:

Fri 5/6 @ 8:00 p.m.

Battle 10th Anniversary: Mass, In/Side, Ella / For Four, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale / Revelations

Sat 5/7 @ 8:00 p.m.

New Jersey Premieres: Holding Space / BUSK / Revelations

Sun 5/8 @ 3:00 p.m.

Battle 10th Anniversary: Mass, In/Side, Ella / For Four, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale / Revelations

New Jersey Premieres:

For Four (2021) – Take four amazing Ailey dancers and add in Wynton Marsalis’ delicious jazz score – written in 4/4 time. Capturing the pent-up energy of a world cooped up during the pandemic, Battle expresses the drive to perform and the electricity of dancers coming together to create.

Holding Space (2021) – Against a backdrop of civil unrest and our relentless threat upon the natural world, Ailey Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts examines the ways in which we are taking care. Holding Space asks: in what ways can we collectively accommodate one another to better traverse this new and unprecedented terrain?

Busk (2009) – Internationally renowned choreographer Aszure Barton invites us to enjoy the fragility, tenderness, and resilience that exist within the human experience. Set to a spirited score, BUSK has been described as watching the physical unfurling of the human psyche.

New Productions:

• Unfold (2007, 2021 New Production) – Artistic Director Robert Battle’s sensuous, swirling duet evokes the tenderness and ecstasy in Gustave Charpentier’s aria “Depuis Le Jour” sung by the incomparable Leontyne Price. With its fluid grace, this gem exemplifies Battle’s skill for nuanced gestures and vivid imagery.

Repertory Favorites:

• Ella (2008 / Ailey Company Premiere 2016) – Created as a solo, this high-energy comical dance by Robert Battle was reinvented as a duet for Ailey’s December 2016 Opening Night Gala benefit, “An Evening of Ailey and Jazz” in celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s 2017 birth centennial. Using her live concert recording of “Airmail Special,” Ella matches the iconic singer’s virtuosic scatting with lightning-fast, articulated movement in an irresistible tour-de-force that leaves audiences (and the dancers) breathless.

In/Side (2008 / Ailey Company Premiere 2009) – The vivid emotions of Nina Simone’s “Wild is the Wind” play out in Robert Battle’s gripping solo. The bold, unrestrained style that has become his signature is evinced in this visceral cry of pure physicality.

Love Stories finale (2004) – Love Stories was Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison’s dynamic collaboration with hip-hop pioneer Rennie Harris and Robert Battle. Inspired by the African concept of “Sankofa,” which teaches that “we don’t know where we are going unless we know where we have been,” this extraordinary ballet celebrates the heritage of African- American dance and the rich legacy of Alvin Ailey.

Mass (2004 / Ailey Company Premiere 2017) – originally commissioned for The Juilliard School, Mass features a score by John Mackey, who has collaborated on multiple occasions with Mr. Battle. The work features 16 dancers showcasing Robert Battle’s signature ritualistic choreography.

Takademe (1999 / Ailey Company Premiere 2012) – Robert Battle’s bravura work mixes humor and high-flying movement in a savvy deconstruction of Indian Kathak dance rhythms. Clear shapes and propulsive jumps mimic the vocalized syllables of Sheila Chandra’s syncopated score.

Ailey Classic:

• Revelations (1960) – American classic acclaimed as a must‐see for all, Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece is a tribute to his heritage and genius. Choreographed when he was only 29 years old, Revelations is an intimate reflection that explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition, from the deepest of grief to the holiest joy. Using African-American religious spirituals, this suite is a classic tribute to the resolve and determination of a people. Revelations has been seen by more people around the world than any other work of modern dance.

TICKETS

For Tickets, visit njpac.org/event/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater or call the Box Office 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now‐fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey, posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom —the nation’s highest civilian honor— and guided by Judith Jamison 1989-2011, the Company is now led by Robert Battle. The Dance Company is the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center. To learn more, visit alvinailey.org

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(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Cuisine, Health & Wellness and Spirituality)