18BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 10 , 2017
By : Darrell Canty
Alvin Ailey Theater Celebrates Black History Month in South Florida
AAADT ' s Jacquelin Harris and Megan Jakel in Robert Ba�le ' s Ella .
Photo by Christopher Duggan
Led by Miami na�ve and Ailey Ar�s�c Director Robert Ba�le , the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from Thursday , February 23 through Sunday , February 26 , 2017 .
The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater inspires humanity by celebra�ng the African- American experience and the American modern dance tradi�on . And nearly six decades later , under the leadership of Liberty City na�ve Robert Ba�le , Ailey not only shines through art , but the repertory is also a clarion call for social ac�vism . This is evident in Choreographer Kyle Abraham ’ s “ Un�tled America ” produc�on that focuses on the impact of the prison system on
African-American families . The piece includes interviews by those impacted by incarcera�on .
A highlight of the Miami engagement during Black History Month will be the South Florida premiere of veteran Ailey dancer Hope Boykin ’ s “ r-Evolu�on .” During Ailey ’ s annual tour , Hope Boykin ’ s , “ r-Evolu�on ” was inspired a�er a visit to the Na�onal Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta . Boykin felt the messages were �mely , and she was later commissioned to develop a large ensemble work that combines storytelling , new music by Ali Jackson , and historic and original wri�ngs narrated by Leslie Odom , Jr . of Hamilton acclaim . Uniquely , “ r-Evolu�on ’ s ” impetus was derived from rare footage of mourners from
AAADT in Hope Boykin ' s r-Evolu�on , Dream .
Photo by Paul Kolnik
AAADT in Billy Wilson ' s The Winter in Lisbon .
Photo by Christopher Duggan
Dr . King ’ s funeral , is accompanied by a voice over excerpt from his “ Drum Major Ins�nct ” speech .
I spoke to Ms . Boykin , a na�ve of North Carolina , who makes her home in Harlem U . S . A . She said , “ I heard it in a different way . And that inspired me to find other sermons and speeches because I felt there was a piece within something — that ’ ll make me want to move to it . I just felt that his words were inspiring enough and as we con�nued on tour , I would use his speeches as mo�va�on and literally would be in the studio with a sermon — and I would start moving to it .
When asked about the other inspira�onal
works that reflected upon social issues , Ms . Boykin spoke proudly about the renowned “ Revela�ons and Blue Suite .” She said “ those two works combined , speak to the genera�on , environment and to the evolu�on that Mr . Ailey was living in — during the Civil rights movement . He said look at my culture and look at the beauty in it .”
In addi�on to Ms . Boykin ’ s new work , the Miami audience will be treated to a diversified collec�on of brilliant and renowned dancers , including the majes�c Miami na�ve and company star Jamar Roberts . “ He said “ It ’ s always great to get support from the audience , but there ’ s nothing like the support from people you actually know , or people who have actually seen the trajectory of your career from the �me it started . So , the applause feels ten �mes greater . It has always been nothing but posi�vity here .” The South Florida na�ve also teaches workshops in the Miami area at the Dance Empire of Miami in January and June . Roberts is a firm believer of exposing youth to the arts with his presence .