Alvin Ailey's Relevant Revelations

One of the great yearly thrills Chicago audiences get to receive each year is dancing royalty in the form and formations of the still ground breaking Alvin Ailey dance company. As so many dance companies are commemorating major anniversaries this year (Martha Graham's 85th, Mark Morris' 30th) very few can compare to the history and pure grace that Alvin Ailey has produced in this half century.

To celebrate their 140th performance at the Auditorium Theatre and the final season of the grand dame Artistic Director Judith Jamison, the program, through May 22nd included the touching Anointed (2010), choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins with is a tribute to the founder himself. Anointed features music by Moby and Sean Clements and features the coupling of Linda Celeste Sims and Jamar Roberts with the costuming converting from a simple black to an almost glow in the dark pink to an almost religious white.

The Evolution of a Secured Feminine (2007), choreographed by Camille A. Brown, features Rachael McLaren in a powerful solo performance where her masculine side is explored in an almost Fossesque manner, with most of the piece being manipulated with no sound.

Next, The Hunt (2001), choreographed by incoming Artistic Director Robert Battle, features six male dancers in brilliant red skirts in an all out primal piece with percussion that grew with the dancers fanaticism, that had the audience out of their seats.

The program ends with the 50th anniversary of the signature piece, Revelations, beginning with a short film piece entitled "Revelations at Fifty" chronicling the dance company's history which perfectly seats up the finale, Revelations, performed in three sections, Pilgrimage of Sorrow; Take Me To The Water; and Move, Members, Move.

Audience members were moved to tears and the company received a 5 minute standing ovation, which reinforces the history, love and respect Chicagoans have for this unique and relevant company of magnificent dancers.

Alvin Ailey Dance Company performs through May 22, 2011, 50 E. Congress, Chicago, 312-922-2110 This performance was attended by Stacy Jones