For Mother’s Day Weekend, mom & the entire family to the incomparable performances of Alvin Ailey dancers!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, America’s beloved cultural ambassador to the world, completes its 22-city coast-to-coast North American tour at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Prudential Hall, Friday, May 12 – Sunday, May 14, 2023.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle (alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/robert-battle), Ailey returns to the NJPAC stage for the 24th time with exciting premieres, a powerful new production, and repertory favorites including Alvin Ailey’s must-see American masterpiece ‘Revelations.’ Other NJPAC activities include past Ailey Day April 29 (a free community day of dance classes), a Schooltime Performance May 12 for young students, and its annual summer AileyCamp June 26-August 4.

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER @ NJPAC

Schedule:

Friday, May 12 @ 12:30 p.m. SchoolTime Performance

Open to schools only (not general public)

Friday, May 12 @ 8:00 p.m. New Jersey Premieres

In a Sentimental Mood / Are You in Your Feelings? / Revelations

Saturday, May 13 @ 8:00 p.m. Classic Ailey

Night Creature, Reflections in D / Survivors / Revelations

Sunday, May 14 @ 3:00 p.m. New Jersey Premieres

In a Sentimental Mood / Are You in Your Feelings? / Revelations

Additional Offerings:

Saturday, April 29, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Ailey Day (Past) 

A favorite annual event for families in the Newark area, this free program offers dance classes for children and adults taught by Ailey Arts In Education Teaching Artists and more.

Monday, June 26 – Fri August 4, AileyCamp Newark 

A unique summer day camp program for at-risk children, AileyCamp is held in ten cities across the country including Newark. In partnership with Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, NJPAC founded this six-week program for Newark kids in 2011.

DANCERS, PERFORMERS

Ailey’s 32 extraordinary dancers include two New Jersey natives: Montclair’s Chalvar Monteiro (alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/chalvar-monteiro) and Newark’s Christopher Taylor (alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/christopher-taylor), who will make his NJPAC debut as a member of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In 2011, Taylor’s journey to dance began when he attended the inaugural AileyCamp Newark, (alvinailey.org/about/arts-education-community-programs/aileycamp) and continued training at The Ailey School on scholarship, before dancing with Ailey II for two seasons. Alongside Company member Solomon Dumas, Taylor is only the second former AileyCamper to join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Although AileyCamp is not meant to be a training ground for professional dancers, some students are awarded scholarships to further study at The Ailey School or pursue training at other accredited dance schools and have later performed with professional dance companies.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 

In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of dancers took the stage in New York and forever changed American dance and culture. One of the country’s groundbreaking greats, his Company earned a reputation as one of the finest international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance. Learn more at alvinailey.org.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Follow NJPAC Online:

Website:      njpac.org

Twitter:       @NJPAC

Instagram:    @NJPAC

Hashtag:      #NJPAC

Facebook:     facebook.com/NJPAC

YouTube:      NJPACtv 

Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

Website:      njpac.org/takeastand

Hashtag:      #NJPACTakeAStand Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

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RING IN MOTHER’S DAY WITH A FAMILY CONCERT

By Mabel Pais

Want to witness an exciting vocal, instrumental and dance concert for the entire family this Mother’s Day weekend?

Ring in MOTHER’S DAY with the entire family at a vocal, instrumental and dance concert “Hooray for Bollywood” of South Asian artists and Kulture Kool presented by the New Jersey Symphony (NJS). The performances take place on Saturday, May 13 at 2 pm at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).

The Symphony, led by conductor Vinay Parameswaran, will be joined by acclaimed South Asian musicians for this performance, including prominent sitar player Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury. The program will also feature new arrangements by award-winning pianist, composer and journalist Charu Suri. In addition, the show will present dynamic dance routines and vocal accompaniments by Indian dance and music students from Kulture Kool showcasing the vibrant and intricate movements of Bollywood choreography.

 “This concert is a dream come true for me,” says Archana Athalye, Director of Kulture Kool and host of this performance. “Indian music in all its genres is so rich, sophisticated and expansive and is deeply embedded in the daily lives of not just the South Asian diaspora but many other cultures all over the world. We are delighted to bring the vibrant music of an entire subcontinent in a new and exciting format through this concert.”

This unique performance will feature beloved Bollywood songs from classic films, including “Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina” from ‘Abhimaan,’ as well as popular contemporary hits like “Dholida” from ‘Love Yatri’ and “Rang De Basanti” from the film of the same name. The audience will take a tour of the musical traditions across the many regions of India and will be transported to the magical world of Bollywood in an afternoon of vibrant and colorful traditions as they witness the fusion of traditional Indian music with Western orchestration.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Vinay Parameswaran and Kulture Kool to bring this exciting and unique performance to the stage,” said Erin Lunsford Norton, Vice President of Artistic Planning at the New Jersey Symphony (NJS). “The fusion of Indian music and Western orchestration is a testament to the power of music to unite people across cultures and borders.”

For more information, visit njsymphony.org/events/detail/hooray-for-bollywood

TICKETS

For Tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events/detail/hooray-for-bollywood or the box office at 60 Park Place, Suite 900 | Newark, NJ 07102 or call 1.800.ALLEGRO

(1.800.255.3476).

The New Jersey Symphony 

The Emmy and Grammy Award-winning New Jersey Symphony, celebrating its Centennial Season in 2022–23, is redefining what it means to be a nationally leading, relevant orchestra in the 21st century.

“[The Symphony’s centennial] will be important not just for marking how far they’ve come, but for what lies ahead.” – NJ.COM

Connect with NJS:

Website: njsymphony.org

@NJSymphony on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok

@NewJerseySymphony on YouTube

Email: information@njsymphony.org

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