Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater program

Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater

February 3–4, 2023

Jacquelin Harris. Photo credit: Dario Calmese

Meridian Hall

Robert Battle, Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, Associate Artistic Director

TO Live would like to acknowledge Tkaronto, which is a Mohawk word meaning the place in the water where the trees are standing.

We live and work on the traditional territory of Haudenosaunee-speaking nations, including the Huron-Wendat, Seneca, and Mohawk. Haudenosauneespeaking nations have been here since time immemorial, and were more recently joined by the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This place has many Indigenous ports, including where the Humber and Rouge rivers meet other waterways such as Lake Ontario. Ancient longhouses— typical Haudenosaunee housing structures—have been found along both these rivers and in the north of Toronto near modern-day York University. This territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and the Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the lands and the relationships around the Great Lakes.

What this means is that by living and working here, we all have a responsibility to the environment and to each other, to treat each other and the environment with peace and respect. This means we have responsibilities to honour, renew, and consistently uphold the values and relationships outlined in the ancient agreements.

Today, Toronto is home to Indigenous peoples and settlers from around the world. Let us all come together in an atmosphere of respect and peace to do good work together with good minds. Let’s start building stronger and healthier relationships with each other and the spaces we inhabit in Tkaronto, Ontari:io, Kanata.

Let’s hold our minds together in kindness. Nia:wen. Thank you.

© Dawn Maracle

Welcome letter from TO Live

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been thrilling Toronto audiences on this very stage since 1979. The groundbreaking company inspires audiences to envision their potential and imagine a world of possibilities.

When Toronto-born Hannah Alissa Richardson was 13 years old, she attended a performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater here in this very theatre. Hannah had already been dancing for 10 years at the time but had never seen a dance company that resembled this one.

“They looked like me and I looked like them. It was thrilling!” she explains. “My parents and I were seated at a perfect location. Centre, just far back enough to be able to see the whole stage. The energy and excitement in the theatre was felt throughout.”

When Hannah finished high school, she auditioned and was accepted into The Ailey School Certificate Program, graduating with honours. She performed one season with Ailey II, the junior company, and is now in her first year with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, performing regularly at New York’s prestigious City Center and touring North America—beginning with the TO Live presentation you are about to enjoy.

Hannah’s story shows us all the power of the arts to inspire and uplift. It also highlights the important role TO Live plays in the Toronto arts ecosystem. As an organization, we have the scale and ambition to bring large touring productions to our city. In doing so we are providing Toronto audiences with world-class experiences, inspiring local artists to chase their dreams, and building a better city through the arts.

You can see Hannah dancing in Night Creature, For Four, and Revelations (“Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”) (Friday evening and Saturday matinee) and Survivors, Are You in Your Feelings?, and Revelations (“Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”) (Saturday evening).

To Artistic Director Robert Battle and the entire Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company: thank you for being here and inspiring audiences in Toronto and around the world.

Clyde Wagner President & CEO Josephine Ridge Vice President, Programming

About Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater

When Alvin Ailey and a small group of African American dancers took the stage on March 30, 1958, at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, the engagement was for one night only, but it turned out to be the start of a new era in the arts. Mr. Ailey envisioned a company dedicated to enriching the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience. He became one of the trailblazers of modern dance, and the work of his Company grew to encompass education, community outreach, and cultural diplomacy. To date, the Company has gone on to perform for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents—as well as millions more through television, film, and online. More than 270 works by over 100 choreographers have been part of the Ailey repertory. In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution designated the Company as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world.” Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and over the next 21 years she brought the Company to unprecedented success. Ms. Jamison, in turn, personally selected Robert Battle to succeed her in 2011, and The New York Times declared he “has injected the company with new life.”

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater gratefully acknowledges The Joan & Sandy Weill Global Ambassador Fund, which provides vital support for Ailey’s national and international tours.

Alvin Ailey® American Dance Theater

Founder: Alvin Ailey

Artistic Director Emerita: Judith Jamison

Artistic Director: Robert Battle

Associate Artistic Director: Matthew Rushing

Company Members: Jeroboam Bozeman, Khalia Campbell, Patrick Coker, Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Caroline T. Dartey, Ghrai DeVore-Stokes, Solomon Dumas, Samantha Figgins, Jau’mair Garland, James Gilmer, Vernard J. Gilmore, Ashley Kaylynn Green, Jacquelin Harris, Michael Jackson, Jr., Yazzmeen Laidler, Yannick Lebrun, Xavier Mack, Renaldo Maurice, Ashley Mayeux, Corrin Rachelle Mitchell, Chalvar Monteiro, Alisha Rena Peek, Belén Indhira Pereyra, Miranda Quinn, Hannah Alissa Richardson, Deidre Rogan, Kanji Segawa, Courtney Celeste Spears, Constance Stamatiou, Christopher Taylor, Jermaine Terry, Christopher R. Wilson

Rehearsal Director: Ronni Favors

Assistant Rehearsal Director: Clifton Brown

Executive Director: Bennett Rink

Gilman Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NBA Foundation, New York City Center, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, Prudential, Salesforce, The SHS Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and Verizon Communications.

Friday, February 3, 2023 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 2:00 pm

NIGHT CREATURE

(1974)

Choreography by Alvin Ailey

Restaged by Masazumi Chaya

Music by Duke Ellington

Costumes by Jane Greenwood

Costumes recreated by Barbara Forbes

Lighting by Chenault Spence

“Night creatures, unlike stars, do not come OUT at night—they come ON, each thinking that before the night is out, he or she will be the star.” —Duke Ellington

Movement I

Sarah Daley- Perdomo, Jermaine Terry & The Company

The 2023 North American Tour is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Major funding of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is also provided by American Express, Bloomberg Philanthropies, BNY Mellon, Diageo North America, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Ford Foundation, Fund II Foundation, HäagenDazs, The Hearst Foundations, Howard

Movement II

Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Yannick Lebrun, Miranda Quinn, Christopher R. Wilson, Alisha Rena Peek, Patrick Coker, Ashley Mayeux, James Gilmer, Caroline T. Dartey, Solomon Dumas, Deidre Rogan, Xavier Mack, Hannah Alissa Richardson, Christopher Taylor

Movement III

Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Jermaine Terry & The Company

This production was made possible, in part, by a grant from Ford Foundation and with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fabric dyeing of costumes by Elissa Tatigikis Iberti.

Night Creature used by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.

– pause –

REFLECTIONS IN D

(1963)

Choreography by Alvin Ailey

Restaged by Judith Jamison

Music by Duke Ellington

Costume recreated by Jon Taylor by Nicola Cernovitch

Vernard J. Gilmore

Generous support for Reflections in D was provided by Laren and Jesse Brill.

“Reflections In D” written by Duke Ellington, used with the permission of Sony/ATV Harmony, Tempo Music, Inc., and G. Schirmer.

– intermission –FOR FOUR (2021)

Choreography by Robert Battle

Staged by Elisa Clark

Music by Wynton Marsalis

Costumes by Corin Wright

Lighting by Al Crawford

Ashley Kaylynn Green, Kanji Segawa, Khalia Campbell, Hannah Alissa Richardson

Leadership support for the world premiere of For Four was provided by Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer.

The world premiere of For Four was made possible with major support from Melinda & Paul Pressler, Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn & Nicolas S. Rohatyn, The Ellen Jewett & Richard L. Kauffman New Works Endowment Fund, Elaine & Lawrence J. Rothenberg, Denise Littlefield Sobel, and the Red Moose Charitable Fund.

For Four is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Delfeayo’s Dilemma” composed and performed by Wynton Marsalis, from the album Black Codes (From the Underground). Used by permission with Wynton Marsalis Enterprises.

– pause –UNFOLD (2007)

Choreography by Robert Battle

Restaged by Kanji Segawa

Music recorded by Leontyne Price

Costume design by Jon Taylor

Lighting design by Lynda Erbs

Ashley Mayeux, Jeroboam Bozeman

Support for the original production of Unfold was received from Elma Linz Kanefield.

Leadership support for this production of Unfold is provided by Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer.

This production of Unfold was made possible

with generous support from Judith

McDonough Kaminski & Joseph Kaminski.

“Dupuis Le Jour” from Act III of Louise composed by Gustave Charpentier, recorded by Leontyne Price.

– intermission –REVELATIONS (1960)

Choreography by Alvin Ailey

Music: Traditional

Décor and Costumes by Ves Harper

Costume dresses for “Move, Members, Move”

redesigned by Barbara Forbes

Lighting by Nicola Cernovitch

PILGRIM OF SORROW

I Been ’Buked

The Company

Music arranged by Hall Johnson.*

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel

Solomon Dumas, Yazzmeen Laidler, Hannah Alissa Richardson (2/3/23)

Patrick Coker, Miranda Quinn, Hannah Alissa Richardson (2/4/23)

Music arranged by James Miller.+

Fix Me, Jesus

Sarah Daley-Perdomo, Jermaine Terry (2/3/23)

Constance Stamatiou, Jeroboam Bozeman (2/4/23)

Music arranged by Hall Johnson.*

TAKE ME TO THE WATER

Processional/Honor, Honor

Renaldo Maurice, Alisha Rena Peek,

Christopher R. Wilson, Jeroboam Bozeman (2/3/23)

Xavier Mack, Deidre Rogan, Christopher Taylor, James Gilmer (2/4/23)

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

Wade in the Water

Belén Indhira Pereyra, Yannick Lebrun, Constance Stamatiou (2/3/23)

Samantha Figgins, Solomon Dumas, Courtney Celeste Spears (2/4/23)

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts. “Wade in the Water” sequence by Ella Jenkins.

“A Man Went Down to the River” is an original composition by Ella Jenkins.

I Wanna Be Ready

Vernard J. Gilmore (2/3/23)

Jermaine Terry (2/4/23)

Music arranged by James Miller.+

MOVE, MEMBERS, MOVE Sinner Man

Jeroboam Bozeman, Chalvar Monteiro, Kanji Segawa (2/3/23)

Christopher Taylor, Christopher R. Wilson, Kanji Segawa (2/4/23)

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

The Day is Past and Gone The Company

Music arranged by Howard A. Roberts and Brother John Sellers.

You May Run On The Company

Music arranged by Howard A. Roberts and Brother John Sellers.

Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham The Company

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

*Used by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.

+Used by special arrangement with Galaxy Music Corporation, New York City.

All performances of Revelations are permanently endowed by a generous gift from Donald L. Jonas in celebration of the birthday of his wife, Barbara, and her deep commitment to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 8:00 pm

SURVIVORS (1986)

Choreography by Alvin Ailey and Mary Barnett

Restaged by Masazumi Chaya

Music by Max Roach & Peter Phillips

Costumes by Toni-Leslie James

Original Décor by Douglas Grekin

Lighting Design by Tim Hunter

Ghrai DeVore-Stokes, Vernard J. Gilmore, Christopher R. Wilson, Solomon Dumas, Hannah Alissa Richardson, Courtney Celeste Spears, Samantha Figgins

Especially for Nelson and Winnie Mandela whose determination inspires the survivor in us all.

Mr. Ailey wishes to express his gratitude to Ms. James, Mr. Grekin, and Mr. Hunter for the generous contributions of their talents and artistry to this work.

“Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace” courtesy of Kobalt Music Publishing. “Survivors” used with permission from Peter Phillips.

– intermission –

ARE YOU IN YOUR FEELINGS? (2022)

Choreography by Kyle Abraham

Music: Various Artists

Rehearsal Associate Stephanie Teraski

Costumes by Karen Young

Lighting by Dan Scully

Caroline T. Dartey, Ghrai DeVore-Stokes, Solomon Dumas, Samantha Figgins, James Gilmer, Ashley Kaylynn Green, Renaldo Maurice, Ashley Mayeux, Chalvar Monteiro, Hannah Alissa

Richardson, Deidre Rogan, Jermaine Terry

The creation of Are You in Your Feelings? is supported by commissioning funds from New York City Center.

The world premiere of Are You in Your Feelings? is made possible with major support from Michele & Timothy Barakett, Melinda & Paul Pressler, Jeanne Greenberg

Rohatyn & Nicolas S. Rohatyn New Works

Endowment Fund, and The Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer Endowment Fund.

Major support of this new production of Survivors is made possible by Judith McDonough Kaminski and Joseph Kaminski, and Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach.

Additional support was provided by an Anonymous supporter, The Fred Eychaner New Works Endowment Fund, and The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey—Sara and Bill Morgan New Works Endowment Fund.

Kyle Abraham and his choreography have been featured in Document Journal, Ebony, Kinfolk, O Magazine, Vogue, and Vogue UK, amongst other publications. Abraham is the proud recipient of a Princess Grace Statue Award (2018), Doris Duke Award (2016), and MacArthur Fellowship (2013). He currently serves as the Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professor in Dance at The University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Abraham also sits on the advisory board for Dance Magazine and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the inaugural Black Genius Brain Trust, and the inaugural cohort of the Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab, a partnership between the Prada Group, Theaster Gates Studio, Dorchester Industries, and Rebuild Foundation. His company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, is widely considered “one of the most consistently excellent troupes working today” (The New York Times). Led by Abraham’s innovative vision, the work of A.I.M is galvanized by Black culture and history and grounded in a conglomeration of unique perspectives. Abraham has been commissioned by dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The National Ballet of Cuba, New York City Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. Abraham has also choreographed for many of the leading dancers of our time, including Misty Copeland, Calvin Royal III, and Wendy Whelan. For more information, visit aimbykyleabraham.org.

“I Love You” is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. “I Only Have Eyes for You” performed by The Flamingos, courtesy of Warner Chappell. “A Breaux's Tale” and “Roster” performed by Jazmine Sullivan, courtesy of Warner Chappell and Kobalt Music Publishing. “Forgive

Them Father” performed by Lauryn Hill, courtesy of Sony Music Publishing. “That’s How You Feel” performed by Drake, courtesy of Sony Music Publishing.

“I’ll Call U Back” Performed by Erykah Badu, courtesy of Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing. “Woman to Woman” performed by Shirley Brown, courtesy of Universal Music Publishing. “Session 32” performed by Summer Walker, courtesy of Warner Chappell. “LOVE. ft. Zacari.” performed by Kendrick Lamar, courtesy of Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell, Kobalt Music Publishing, and Universal Music Publishing. “While We’re Young” performed by Jhené Aiko, courtesy of Universal Music Publishing. “Symptom Unknown” performed by Maxwell, courtesy of Sony Music Publishing.

– intermission –REVELATIONS (1960)

Choreography by Alvin Ailey

Music: Traditional Décor and Costumes by Ves Harper

Costume dresses for “Move, Members, Move”

redesigned by Barbara Forbes

Lighting by Nicola Cernovitch

PILGRIM OF SORROW

I Been ’Buked The Company

Music Arranged by Hall Johnson.*

Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel

Solomon Dumas, Ashley Kaylynn Green, Hannah Alissa Richardson

Music arranged by James Miller.+

Fix Me, Jesus

Constance Stamatiou, Jermaine Terry

Music arranged by Hall Johnson.*

TAKE ME TO THE WATER

Processional/Honor, Honor

Xavier Mack, Alisha Rena Peek, James Gilmer, Christopher Taylor

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

Wade in the Water

Jacquelin Harris, Renaldo Maurice, Khalia Campbell

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

“Wade in the Water” sequence by Ella Jenkins.

“A Man Went Down to the River” is an original composition by Ella Jenkins.

I Wanna Be Ready

Yannick Lebrun

Music arranged by James Miller.+

MOVE, MEMBERS, MOVE

Sinner Man

Jeroboam Bozeman, James Gilmer, Xavier Mack

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

The Day is Past and Gone

The Company

Music arranged by Howard A. Roberts and Brother John Sellers.

You May Run On The Company

Music arranged by Howard A. Roberts and Brother John Sellers.

Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham

The Company

Music adapted and arranged by Howard A. Roberts.

*Used by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.

+Used by special arrangement with Galaxy Music Corporation, New York City.

All performances of Revelations are permanently endowed by a generous gift from Donald L. Jonas in celebration of the birthday of his wife, Barbara, and her deep commitment to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Alvin Ailey was born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas. His experiences of life in the rural south would later inspire some of his most memorable works. He was introduced to dance in Los Angeles by performances of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, and his formal dance training began with an introduction to Lester Horton’s classes by his friend Carmen de Lavallade. Horton, the founder of one of the first racially integrated dance companies in the United States, became a mentor for Mr. Ailey as he embarked on his professional career. After Horton’s death in 1953, Mr. Ailey became director of the Lester Horton Dance Theater and began to choreograph his own works. In the 1950s and 60s Mr. Ailey performed in four Broadway shows, including House of Flowers and Jamaica. In 1958 he founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (now The Ailey School) in 1969 and formed the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (now Ailey II) in 1974. Mr. Ailey was a pioneer of programs promoting arts in education, particularly those benefiting underserved communities. Throughout his lifetime he was awarded numerous distinctions, including the Kennedy Center Honor in 1988 in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to American culture. In 2014 he posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his contributions and commitment to civil rights and dance in America. When Mr. Ailey died on December 1, 1989, The New York Times said of him, “you didn’t need to have known [him] personally to have been touched by his humanity, enthusiasm, and exuberance and his courageous stand for multi-racial brotherhood.”

Robert Battle became Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in July 2011 after being personally selected by Judith Jamison, making him only the third person to head the Company since it was founded in 1958. Mr. Battle has a longstanding association with the Ailey organization. A frequent choreographer and artist-in-residence at Ailey since 1999, he has set many of his works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, and at The Ailey

Robert Battle

Artistic Director

Alvin Ailey Founder

School. In addition to expanding the Ailey repertory with works by artists as diverse as Ronald K. Brown, Rennie Harris, Jessica Lang, and Wayne McGregor, Mr. Battle has also instituted the New Directions Choreography Lab to help develop the next generation of choreographers. Mr. Battle’s journey to the top of the modern dance world began in the Liberty City neighbourhood of Miami, Florida. He showed artistic talent early and studied dance at a high school arts magnet program before moving on to Miami’s New World School of the Arts, under the direction of Daniel Lewis and Gerri Houlihan, and finally to the dance program at The Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, where he met his mentor, Carolyn Adams. He danced with Parsons Dance from 1994 to 2001, and also set his choreography on that company starting in 1998. Mr. Battle then founded his own Battleworks Dance Company, which made its debut in 2002 in Düsseldorf, Germany, as the U.S. representative to the World Dance Alliance’s Global Assembly. Battleworks subsequently performed extensively at venues including The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, American Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Mr. Battle was honored as one of the “Masters of African American Choreography” by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2005, and he received the prestigious Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in 2007. He is a recipient of the 2021 Dance Magazine Award and has honorary doctorates from The University of the Arts, Marymount Manhattan College, and Fordham University. Mr. Battle was named a 2015 visiting fellow for The Art of Change, an initiative by the Ford Foundation. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and has addressed a number of highprofile organizations, including the United Nations Leaders Programme and the UNICEF Senior Leadership Development Programme.

Matthew Rushing Associate Artistic Director

Matthew Rushing was born in Los Angeles, California. He began his dance training with Kashmir Blake in Inglewood, California, and continued his training at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He is the recipient of a Spotlight Award and a Dance Magazine Award and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He was a scholarship student at The Ailey School and later became a member of Ailey II. During his career Mr. Rushing has performed as a guest artist for galas in Vail, Colorado, as well as in Austria, Canada, France, Italy, and Russia. He has performed for Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as at the 2010 White House Dance Series. During his time with the Company, he has choreographed four ballets: Acceptance In Surrender (2005), a collaboration with Hope Boykin and AbdurRahim Jackson; Uptown (2009), a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance; ODETTA (2014), a celebration of “the queen of American folk music”; and Testament (2020), a tribute to Alvin Ailey’s Revelations created in collaboration with Clifton Brown and Yusha-Marie Sorzano. In 2012 he created Moan, which was set on PHILADANCO! and premiered at The Joyce Theater. Mr. Rushing joined the Company in 1992, became Rehearsal Director in 2010, and Associate Artistic Director in January 2020.

Judith Jamison Artistic Director Emerita

Judith Jamison joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and quickly became an international star. Over the following 15 years, Mr. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her, most notably the tour-de-force solo Cry. During the 1970s and 80s she appeared as a guest artist with ballet companies all over the world, starred in the hit Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies, and formed her own company, The Jamison Project. She returned to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1989 when Mr. Ailey asked her to succeed him as Artistic Director. In the 21 years that followed, she brought the Company to unprecedented heights—including two historic engagements in South Africa and a 50-city global tour to celebrate the Company’s 50th anniversary. Ms. Jamison is the

Ronni Favors Rehearsal Director

recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them a primetime Emmy Award, an American Choreography Award, a Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts, a Bessie Award, the Phoenix Award, and the Handel Medallion. She was also listed in “The TIME 100: The World’s Most Influential People” and honored by First Lady Michelle Obama at the first White House Dance Series event. In 2015 she became the 50th inductee into the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Dance. In 2016 she received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards. As a highly regarded choreographer, Ms. Jamison has created many celebrated works, including Divining (1984), Forgotten Time (1989), Hymn (1993), HERE... NOW. (commissioned for the 2002 Cultural Olympiad), Love Stories (with additional choreography by Robert Battle and Rennie Harris, 2004), and Among Us (Private Spaces: Public Places) (2009). Ms. Jamison’s autobiography, Dancing Spirit, was edited by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and published in 1993. In 2004, under Ms. Jamison’s artistic directorship, her idea of a permanent home for the Ailey company was realized and named after beloved chairman emerita Joan Weill. Ms. Jamison continues to dedicate herself to asserting the prominence of the arts in our culture, and she remains committed to promoting the significance of the Ailey legacy—using dance as a medium for honoring the past, celebrating the present, and fearlessly reaching into the future.

Ronni Favors is from Iowa City, Iowa. After studying at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan with the Camp Scholarship, she continued her training at The Ailey School as a Fellowship student. Ms. Favors was a member of Ailey II, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and a recipient of the Min-On Art Award. Ms. Favors was the ballet instructor at the 1989 inaugural session of AileyCamp in Kansas City and served as Artistic Director of the Camp. She is the Founding Director of Children’s Aid AileyCamp New York and provided guidance in the national implementation of the AileyCamp program. In 1997, Ms. Favors was named Assistant Rehearsal Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and was

Clifton Brown Assistant Rehearsal Director

its Rehearsal Director from 1999 to 2010. She worked with local dance students who performed in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria in Johannesburg, South Africa, as well as in Seattle, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City, and New York. Most recently, she set Alvin Ailey’s Night Creature on TU Dance and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Ms. Favors rejoined the Company as Rehearsal Director in 2019.

Clifton Brown, from Goodyear, Arizona, began his dance training at Take 5 Dance Academy and continued in the first class of the Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance program. Mr. Brown began his professional career when he joined the Ailey company in 1999 and served as choreographic assistant to Judith Jamison. He has also danced with Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and was a founding member and rehearsal director for Jessica Lang Dance. He was nominated in the U.K. for a Critics Circle National Dance Award for Best Male Dancer and received a Black Theater Arts Award as well as a New York Dance and Performance (“Bessie”) Award. As a guest artist Mr. Brown has performed with Miami City Ballet, Rome Opera Ballet, Nevada Ballet, and Parsons Dance. He has set the work of Alvin Ailey, Earl Mosley, and Jessica Lang on various companies around the world. Television appearances as a guest artist include So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. He has had the privilege of performing at the White House for President Obama. Mr. Brown became Assistant Rehearsal Director in 2019.

Bennet Rink Executive Director

Bennett Rink became Executive Director in 2013. Mr. Rink first joined Ailey as Manager of Special Events in 1994, became Development Director in 1998, and then worked as Senior Director of Development and External Affairs from 2007 to 2012. In his tenure overseeing Ailey’s development and fundraising efforts, Mr. Rink led a $75 million capital campaign supporting Ailey’s first permanent home, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, which opened in 2005, and established an endowment to support major program areas. When the Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, Mr. Rink supervised an 18-month celebration, including events, promotions, collaborations, and special performances,

bringing public awareness of the Ailey organization to new heights. Mr. Rink also oversaw The Next Step Campaign, which grew the organization’s endowment to $50 million. As Executive Director, Mr. Rink launched a five-year strategic plan in 2014 to realize Robert Battle’s creative vision, expand Ailey’s educational offerings, and enhance technology to extend the reach of the organization. Central to the plan has been the expansion of The Joan Weill Center for Dance, which attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year. In the fall of 2017, Ailey unveiled the Center’s Elaine Wynn and Family Education Wing, providing much-needed additional studios and classroom space to meet the growing demand for Ailey’s programs. The building now comprises 87,000 square feet and is the largest destination for dance in New York City. Mr. Rink also conceived The Campaign for Ailey’s Future, a $50 million initiative to support the Center’s expansion and the ongoing implementation of other long-range strategic priorities. During his tenure, the Company deepened its presence in New York City by establishing a spring season at Lincoln Center to complement its New York City Center winter season, while also extending its role as America’s “Cultural Ambassador to the World” with tours to Africa, Europe, and South America. In order to reach audiences beyond live performances, the Company has broadened its commitment to creating film and digital content, including its first-ever theatrical movie release as part of Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance. Mr. Rink is a graduate of Syracuse University and holds a BFA in theatre.

To read bios of the dancers, visit AlvinAiley.org/ dancers

The Ailey dancers are supported, in part, by The Judith McDonough Kaminski Dancer Endowment Fund.

Cabaret Noir

Feb 9 - 11, 2023

Co-Presented by dance Immersion & Canadian Stage

Vlad Alexis.

Photo by Cloé Pluquet.

TO Live donor listing

TO Live acknowledges the generosity of our supporters through donations to TO Live and the TO Live Foundation.

1R32 Foundation

2608701 Ontario Inc.

Jocelyne Achat & Kenneth Maclean

Shirley Arnold

Arts Capital

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Bruce Bennett

Shira Bernholtz

Eleanor Bothwell

Elspeth Bowler

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Wendy Chong

Diana Cockburn

Judith C. Cole

bob collins

Leona Cotoia

Cheryl Cottle

Jacqueline Cushnie

Lori DeGraw

Suzanne Denis

Anne Dumais

Penelope Evans

Alicia Excell

Arts Capital

Shirley Farr

Mary Ann Farrell

Matt Farrell

Alan Feller

David Fiske

Nina Flowers

Darrell Flynn

Clarence Ford

Robert & Julia Foster

Linda Galen

Derek Genova

Charles Gibbs

Deborah Gourgy

Peter Grav

Wayne Hawes

Elaine Iannuzziello

IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund

Imaginus Canada

Lev Ioussoufovitch

Rob Italiano

Janice Johnson

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Andrew Kempa

Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield

Laura Lee Kozody

Young Wook Kwon

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Alan Levine

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Karen Liedeman

Jodi Lindsay

Edith Lo

Jennifer MacLachlan

Hailee Mah

Ruth & Harold Margles

Laurie Markus

Steve McAdam

Randy McCall

David McCracken

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Linda McGuire

Isabel Menanno

William Milne

Leslie Milthorpe

Susan Moellers

Peter Neuschild

Sorina Oprea

Jennifer Parkin

Frances Hunter

Brenda Polzler

John Quirke

Grant Ramsay

Brandon Rattan

Josephine Ridge

Christian Roderos

Phillip Roh

Jeffrey Rohrer

Carol Rowntree

Carole Sisto

Stephanie Slobodnik

Debbie Smith

David Smith

Natalia Sorokov

Karyn Spiesman

Richard Spooner

St. Lawrence Market BIA

Evelyn Steinberg

Katie Sultan

Josie Tait

Erinn Todd

Alicja Turner

Asha Varadharajan

Vida Peene Fund

Taylor Vince

Peeranut Visetsuth

Vital Link Ice Cream

Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz

Patricia Wheelan

Denise Wise

Edwin Zukowski

Anonymous (5)

The above donations were made as of December 21, 2022.

Passion Consciousness Unification Improvement Prosperity

Standing with Black Communities

TO Live staff and board

Board of directors

Lori DeGraw

Chair

Councillor Gary Crawford

Vice Chair

Paul Bernards

Myriam Gafarou

Kevin Garland

Mustafa Humayun

Owais Lightwala

Gave Lindo

Dawn Maracle

Kathleen Sharpe

Gillian Smith

Executive management

Clyde Wagner

President & CEO

Isabel Vicente Menanno

Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations

Special projects

Leslie Lester

Vice President of STLC

Redevelopment

Development

Sandra Bellisario

Vice President of Philanthropy & Sponsorship

Madeleine Skoggard

Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship

Ashley D'Andrea

Senior Manager, Leadership Giving

Nikita Patel

Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships

Lawrence Tan

Assistant Manager of Partnerships & Events

Lubiana Ahmed

Philanthropy Operations Assistant

Jun Yoon

Philanthropy Operations Assistant

Finance and administration

William Milne

Vice President of Finance & Administration

Thomas Grady

Director of Finance

Hayde Boccia

Director of Finance

Michael Johnson

Controller

Sabrina Li

Senior Financial Accountant

Paul Gagnon

Client Settlement Services Manager

Dorian Barton

Client Settlement Services Assistant

Gladys Torres

Payroll Specialist

Nooshin Ashraf-Zadeh

Accounting Assistant

Nelum Dissanayake

Accounting Assistant

Fiona Liu

Accounting Assistant

Fiona Wan

Accounting Assistant

Charles Mayne

Office Clerk

Information technology

David McCracken

Director of Information Technology

Michael Cadiz

IT Support Technician

Chahat Khandhar

Systems Administrator

Scott Spence

IT Coordinator

Human resources

Michelle Carter

Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Culture

Mohamed Othman

Director of Human Resources

Mini Chhabaria

Human Resources Generalist

Melissa Creighton

Human Resources Generalist

Marketing and communications

Jeff Rohrer

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Stephanie Canarte

Director of Marketing

Grant Ramsay

Media Relations Officer

Stephen Crooks

Senior Digital Marketing Manager

Vanessa Grant

Senior Content Marketing Manager

Lauren Finateri

Marketing Manager, Promotions & Partnerships

Emma Forhan

Digital Content Creator

Shaun Lee

Graphic Designer

Jaya Arora

Social Media & Web Content Coordinator

Jimena Perez

Marketing Coordinator

Joshua DeFreitas

Marketing Coordinator

Box office

Tom Kerr

Director of Ticketing Services

Sandie Chui

Manager of Ticket Services

Fran Holywell

Box Office Manager

Liz Bragg

Box Office Manager

Thomas Quinlan

Box Office Assistant Manager

Holly Merkur-Dance

Box Office Assistant Manager

Clayton Batson

Box Office Duty Manager

Jennifer Norman

Box Office Duty Manager

Brittney Channer

Box Office Duty Manager

Michelle Cruz

Box Office Duty Manager

Operations

Matthew Farrell

Vice President of Operations

Edward Delavari

Director of Capital Projects

Luke Belfontaine

Senior Project Manager

BahramAghakhan

Project Manager

Michael Gutowski

Project Manager

Patron services

Sean Tasson

Director of Patron Services

Lynn Frenette

Patron Services Manager

Derek Genova

Patron Services Manager

Tara Hitchman

Patron Services Manager

Natalie Ireland

Events Manager

Lina Welch

Assistant Patron Services Manager

Kelsey McGuigan

Assistant Patron Services Manager

Christian Lavigne

Assistant Patron Services Manager

Peter Harabaras

Patron Services Duty Manager

Andrew Muirhead

Patron Services Duty Manager

Bruna Pisani

Patron Services Duty Manager

Kizzie St Clair

Patron Services Duty Manager

Maria Waslenko

Patron Services Duty Manager

Stephen Lee

Executive Chef

Juliana Fay

Catering Manager

Facilities

Abiodun Ojekunle

Director of Facilities

Jarryd Fish

Facilities Manager

Evan Ramdin

Chief Building Operator

Robert MacLean

Building Operator

Ryan Nerona

Junior Building Operator

Omar Nurse

Stage Door Security Supervisor

Colin Dyble

Stage Door Security

Henry Fernandes

Stage Door Security

Margreta Kristiansen

Stage Door Security

Mohammed Shaikh

Stage Door Security

Tushar Somani

Stage Door Security

Mohuddin Memon

Stage Door Security

Reza Moradi

Stage Door Security

Sangay Lhamo

Stage Door Security

Mohamed Zuhair

Maintenance Supervisor

Roger Alves

Maintenance

Robert Bischoff

Maintenance

Mizrah Mohemed

Maintenance

Catherine Patrick

Maintenance

Rosalina Silva

Maintenance

Rosa Victoria

Maintenance

Christine Vivlan

Maintenance

Vivian Hije

Maintenance (housekeeping)

Roderick Padasdao

Building Operator

Marciano Ramos

Jr. Building Operator

Ehsan Rahman

Jr. Building Operator

John Vickery

Housekeeping Supervisor

Ahmed Akinpelu

Housekeeping

Rhowen Jane Bunda

Housekeeping

Michael Kim

Housekeeping

Elliott Lewis

Housekeeping

Mabel Liwag

Housekeeping

Ian Romero

Housekeeping

Adam Sikora

Housekeeping

Lauren Smith

Housekeeping

Alicia Surujbally

Housekeeping

Matthew Pannell

Handyperson

Eduardo Costales

Handyperson

Programming

Josephine Ridge

Vice President of Programming

Max Rubino

Director of Commercial

Programming & Partnerships

Ariana Shaw

Producer

John Kiggins

Programming Manager

Nathan Sartore

Programming Coordinator

Courtney Voyce

Bookings Manager

Alyssa Hu

Bookings Coordinator

Alex Whitehead

Bookings Coordinator

Scott North

Director Corporate & Private Events

Michaela Aguirre

Social Media Specialist

Communities and outreach

Tasneem Vahanvaty

Director of Communities and Outreach

Jasmine Vanstone

Communities and Outreach Coordinator

Production

Kristopher Dell

Director of Production

Zoe Carpenter

Senior Production Manager

Anthony (TJ) Shamata

Senior Production Manager

Bruce Bennett

Senior Manager, Theatre Systems and Special Projects

Chris Carlton

Production Manager

Paul McKenna

Production Manager

Armand Baksh-Zarate

Production Manager

Susanne Lankin

Production Manager

Julian Iacob

Production Coordinator

Meridian Hall stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Richard Karwat

Head Electrician

Steve McLean

Head Carpenter

Marcus Sirman

Head of Properties

Ross Tuskey

Head Sound Operator

David Baer

Assistant Carpenter

Zsolt Kota

Assistant Sound Operator

Michael Farkas

Assistant Electrician – AV

Jason Urbanowicz

Assistant Electrician

St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Wes Allen

Head of Properties, Bluma Appel Theatre

Jay Blencowe

Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel Theatre

Keijo Makela

Head Sound Technician, Bluma Appel Theatre

IATSE Local 822

Susan Batchelor

Wardrobe Head, Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre

Meridian Arts Centre stage crew

IATSE Local 58

Aaron Dell

Head Technician, Lyric Theatre

Russell Hawley

Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall

Patrick Hales

Assistant Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall

Grant Primeau

Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre

Duncan Morgan

Head Technician, Studio Theatre

Ailey® staff and board

Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation

Board of Trustees

Daria L. Wallach

Chairman

Anthony S. Kendall President

Sela Thompson Collins

Jaishri Kapoor

Stephen J. Meringoff

Arthur J. Mirante II

Vice-Chairmen

Joy Allen-Altimare

Eleanor S. Applewhaite

Robert Battle

Gunther T. Bright

Laura D. Corb

Robert Kissane

Anthony A. Lewis

Leslie L. Maheras

Lucinda C. Martinez

Jack Pitts

Muhammad Qubbaj

Lata N. Reddy

Bennett Rink

Oti Roberts

Danielle M. Robinson, PhD

Cara Sabin

Joan H. Weill

Edna Kane Williams

DeJuan V. Wilson

Gillian Wynn

Jean-Rene Zetrenne

Pamela D. Zilly

Philip Laskawy

Stanley Plesent, Esq.*

Joan H. Weill

Chairmen Emeriti

Debra L. Lee

Henry McGee

Presidents Emeriti

Gina F. Adams

Simin N. Allison

Anthony M. Carvette

Kathryn C. Chenault

Guido Goldman*

Bruce S. Gordon

John H. Schaefer

Lemar Swinney

Honorary Trustees

*In Memoriam

Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation

Recipient of the National Medal of Arts

Bennett Rink

Executive Director

Pamela Robinson

Chief Financial Officer

Ines Aslan

Chief External Affairs Officer

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Eric D. Wright

General Manager

Isabelle Mezin

Director of Company Business Affairs

Gregory Stuart

Company Manager

Joseph Anthony Gaito

Technical Director

Kristin Colvin Young

Production Stage Manager

Al Crawford

Lighting Director

Jon Taylor

Wardrobe Supervisor

DJ Adderley

Master Carpenter

David Trudeau

Master Electrician

Rob Byerly

Sound Engineer

Jason Rosenberg

Property Master

Justin Coffman

Assistant Company Manager

Lexie Klasing

Assistant Stage Manager

Yi-Chung Chen

Associate Lighting Director

Abigail May

Associate Lighting Director

Danté Baylor

Wardrobe Assistant

Katie Chihaby

Wardrobe Assistant

Jorge Lanuza

Flyman/Assistant Carpenter

Cody Richardson

Assistant Electrician

Henry Wilen

Assistant Electrician

Amadea Edwards

Contracts and Licensing Manager

Chelsea Gillespie

Licensing Administrator

Michelle Grazio

Administrator of Company Business Affairs

Courtney Sauls

Production Assistant

Donald J. Rose, M.D.

Director of the Harkness, Center

for Dance Injuries, NYU Langone

Orthopedics

Sheyi Ojofeitimi, DPT, OCS, CFMT

Director of Therapy Services / Health & Safety Advisor

Jessi Patz, PT, DPT, CKTP

Physical Therapist

Dionne Vernon, PT, DPT, PES, MBA

Physical Therapist

Amy Zink, PT, DPT, CSCS, CPI

Physical Therapist

Ronnel Kitt

Physical Therapy Aide

Touring Contact

OPUS 3 ARTISTS

Tel: 212-584-7500

opus3artists.com

Production Credits

Lighting system provided by 4Wall Entertainment.

Touring sound system provided by Gibson Entertainment Services. Domestic trucking services provided by Stage Call Corporation.

Alvin Ailey is a proud member of Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance.

Dancers appear at the courtesy of the American Guild of Musical Artists.

Alvin Ailey crew members belong to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Ailey Tour Merchandise

Ailey Tour Merchandise and AileyShop.com are managed by The Araca Group / AileyShop.com

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

The Joan Weill Center for Dance 405 West 55th Street, NY, NY 10019-4402

Tel: 212-405-9000

AlvinAiley.org

@AlvinAileyAmerican

@alvinailey @AlvinAileyOfficial