Aileys Dance Theatre Returns To Southern California

Photos Courtesy of Examiner.com

Review by Billy J.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

 

Its beyond dance or ballet, it’s the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, who returned to southern California bringing their distinguished dance style to the stage. Bold red costumes, multiple spins and strength exemplified from a male dancer who balanced a female dancer on his knee while rotating clockwise, are some highlights from the well-executed performance.

On Sunday, Ailey’s Dancers performed at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The show opened with a performance called River. The audience was in awe as walking dancer’s balanced statue-like dancers on their shoulders in a form that looked like moving architecture. River was followed by Lift, choreographed by Aszure Barton. Through a combination of skill and passion the dancers exuded a sense of fun and freedom from the stage, onto the audience. This was created through energetic lifts, balances and transitions on stage while the lighting magically illuminated the dancers.

The show ended with Grace, choreographed by Ronald K Brown. This was a powerful heart-pounding performance with dancers that moved to the sound of tribal drums to depict the journey to the promised land. Strategic use of lighting was vital in this performance, as one group of dancers took center stage there was another group that appeared out of the darkness with intense steps and graceful arm movements.

The three performances were packed with elements that were emotionally, physically and spiritually rich. One dancer connected to the audience by keeping his performance fresh and waving “hi” to the audience which received an immediate applause from the audience. It was no secret that the prowess of Ailey’s dancers is remarkable. The sweat that reflected off of the dancers became a radiant effect that complimented the costumes because there were no signs of lost energy as the dancers moved elegantly across the stage in sync.

The spiritual element was apparent in the final performance when the dancers looked as if they were praising to the sky. In some moments the dancers would exclaim “lord” in a merciful tone. The emotional, physical and spiritual elements were delivered through a passionate performance, impeccable movements and creative use of the stage, which included dancers emerging from every stage angle.

Overall, the show was tightly choreographed. The music score pulled the audience into each moment as the dancers projected the jazzy and modern movements that Ailey is known for. If you’re a fan you would have seen the breathtaking stretches and levels that are always delivered on point, but if you were a first time viewer of Ailey’s dancers, you would have known exactly why this company continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. They are known for their passion for dance and a commitment to teach others about the benefits of dance and creativity. This show was a true journey, although it took place on stage the audience was taken off stage mentally through thought provoking choreography and world class dancers.

Founder: Alvin Ailey

Choreographer: Aszure Barton

Choreographer: Ronald K. Brown

For more information on Segerstrom Theatre click here