Word: ailey
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MODERN DANCE companies are interesting because they need not stick to any formal rules or balletic norms; they have free reign with creativity. Sometimes this freedom simply leads to failure in overly amorphous, experimental works. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the country's leading modern dance companies, reaches modern dance companies, reaches the ultimate balance between these two extremes of stifling fidelity to convention and unrestrained experimentation. Their pieces reflect an incredible combination of ballet structures and modern dance innovation, exhilaration and subdued strength. Wednesday night's performance displayed all the finest aspect of this unique ensemble...
...next work, "Divining", had its Boston premiere Wednesday night. Judith Jamison, a former Ailey dancer, choreographed this magnetic piece to music by Kimati Dimizulu and Monti Ellison. The music alternated between loud, whisting melodies and constant drum rhythms. The starkness of the beating drum focused all attention on the dancer's movements. In contrast to the first piece. Divining" was a study of movement that is nonetheless just as captivating...
...parts of the body are considered in this mesh of movements. The women even use their long hair to heighten the effort of throwing, their torsos over and to straightening up. Against these curves and contractions, Donna Wood appears for a solo. She is one of Ailey's most famous dancxers; her towering height and incredible talent create a magical aura around her. She is able and to turn leap while keeping her body as straight as a spear. Her arms seem to out the air with their sharpness...
...HARD to believe that the next piece could surpass the previous ones, but Ailey's works always exceed expectations. The last dance was "Revelation." his most popular work. The suite "explores motivations and emotions of Afro-American religions music" including gospel songs, spirituals, song-sermons and blues...
...company received a standing ovation and after five minutes proceeded to give an encore repeating the last dance. The audience began clapping to the music, humming the tunes; needless to say this is not a common sight at dance performances. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has reached a new level in this art' they have combined old and new forms, ballet technique and modern jazz with an ability to evoke intense levels of sincere emotion. Wednesday night's performance was a real treat...