A mix of old and new, serious and fun, Monday’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance at Memorial Hall spoke volumes through movement and music.
The performance included four dances: “Arden Court,” choreographed by Paul Taylor in 1981, “Home,” choreographed by Rennie Harris Assistant in 2011, “Journey,” choreographed by Joyce Trisler in 1958, and “Revelations,” the classic dance choreographed by Ailey himself in 1960.
The pieces had a continuous and signature style, though “Home” was obviously a new addition, focusing on bright and loud hip-hop as opposed to the signature combination of modern, ballet and African moves.
The 31 dancers seemed to defy gravity and normal human body mechanics with intense jumps, cartwheels and balancing acts. Every movement meant something to them as they extended their bodies into their stories. Each flick of a wrist, each turn of a heel, was precise and full of determination. While the dancers were not always completely synchronized with one another, an earthy and pure feeling was set.
The recorded music was occasionally too good for the performance, sometimes overshadowing the movement on the stage with its volume and powerful lyrics.
Ailey’s performance belonged not only to the choreographers and dancers, but to the audience members who were able to decipher the music and motion in a way meaningful to them, despite the meanings sometimes getting lost in visual translation.
The highlight of the night was “Revelations,” a dance split into 10 parts. Telling the story of spiritual highs and lows, it was full of strength and passion.
Akua Noni Parker and Antonio Douhit performed a duet to “Fix Me, Jesus,” each maintaining a dependent balance on one another. Parker frequently placed all of her weight on Douhit, and Douhit was an impressively strong and supportive root. They complemented – but did not mirror – each other’s movements, neither controlling or outshining the other.
“Rocka My Soul in the Bottom of Abraham,” the final piece of “Revelations,” was superbly energetic, characterized by yellow dresses and sunhats, vests and ties, along with smiling and clapping from the dancers and the audience members. It transitioned smoothly into the post-curtain call dance party held on-stage and in the house of the auditorium – which gave a standing ovation.
With an energy level higher than the dancers’ jumps, the company proved why it returns to Carolina Performing Arts year after year.
Four and one-half stars.
Staff writer Deborah Strange attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance at Memorial Hall on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. See the company perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall.
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