Dancing Revelations

Some go for the flying leaps, the revolutionary choreography, the Revelations. Others go for the hot black men. Whatever your nectar, Ailey II will be in Page Auditorium on Monday at 8 p.m. to satisfy the craving.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, founded in 1958 by legendary dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey, is a company committed to performing the highest caliber of modern dance and preserving the uniqueness of African-American cultural expression. Known largely for its interpretations of the African-American experience, its dancers are a combination of the ballet artist's form and the jazz performer's heart--arms flailing, but always in perfect form. The Ailey II posters that have graced campus since December, featuring Ailey II dancer Brandye Lee, exemplify the aesthetic. The personal connection that Ailey II performers make with their dances and their audiences has kept the company touring since 1974.

Ailey II dancers are selected from the graduating pool of The Ailey School. Sylvia Waters, artistic director of Ailey II since its inception, looks for "a willingness to reveal oneself... a style of 'dancing from the inside out'--the uniqueness of the individual, and how they convey it," in addition to technique and adaptability. Ailey II is not an imitation of the primary company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The dancers are younger, and usually stay on tour for two years, working through the transition from rehearsal studio to performance stage with a demanding and varied repertory, requiring them to push an assortment of skills. Although the dancers are young, they exhibit a fresh energy and vitality as the promising artists of tomorrow on the threshold of their careers. Most eventually join either the New York company or pursue professional careers with other groups.

Monday evening, the troupe will perform five dances, set to music from Bach to spiritual, and including Ailey's signature piece, "Revelations." Choreographed and first performed in 1960, "Revelations" is a chronicle of the African-American religious experience. With live singers and the characteristic image of a group of dancers moving in unison, reaching towards the audience before looking downward with arms curved to the sides, it is reminiscent of a sunrise, or rebirth. Alvin Ailey often remarked how he attempted, especially with "Revelations," to create a ballet for everyone. Although the company is primarily African-American, it includes the occasional white, Latino or Asian dancer--anyone with the technical skills, stage charisma and passion for a uniquely American form of dance.