Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at BAM

Following a highly-anticipated return to BAM in June 2008 that resulted in sold-out performances, wildly
enthusiastic audiences and rave reviews, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is coming back to Brooklyn with
two programs that continue to celebrate the artistry, grace, and vitality that have distinguished the Ailey
Company for five decades.
The Best Of program showcases selections from the Company’s diverse repertory, including a new production of
Judith Jamison’s award-winning tribute to Ailey entitled Hymn. In episodes ranging from quiet solos to
explosive full company dances, Hymn reveals Ailey’s genius and humanity through narrative recollections from
past and present dancers in text conceived, written, and narrated by actor/playwright Anna Deavere Smith.
Classic Ailey features excerpts from many of Alvin Ailey’s most popular and beloved ballets. Spanning every
decade of his impressive career, this retrospective illustrates the range and resonance of one man’s legacy with
rarely-seen gems and favorite works, from Blues Suite, the dance that launched the Company in 1958, to Opus
McShann, his final piece 30 years later.