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This September arrives a dance company from New York that all of Argentina’s dance-lovers have long-awaited. Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre’s team will set the Teatro Coliseo alight during a four day schedule which is sure to produce a series of dazzling performances for those who stroll into the Coliseo’s golden auditorium between 26th – 29th September.

AAADT will arrive in Buenos Aires on 26th September

Dancer, choreographer and visionary Alvin Ailey founded AAADT with the aim to express the experiences of black people in the US in the mid-20th century. Since its formation, AAADT has graced the stages of 79 different countries becoming a global sensation and inspiring contemporary dance and dancers worldwide. It all stemmed from one fabled performance by Ailey and his troupe of African-Americans, in March 1958 in New York, which changed the perception of American dance forever and triggered the creation of what is now one of the world’s foremost dance companies. It has since been named by a Congressional resolution as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world” in bringing a celebration of the uniqueness of African-American culture and the enrichment and preservation of the heritage of American contemporary dance.

The late Alvin Ailey

Ailey’s legacy reigns large in Argentina with many of his works being performed by Buenos Aires’ best dance schools and theatres over the years. In addition, performer for Ailey’s company back in New York in the 1960s Freddy Romero came over to Buenos Aires and single-handedly taught two generations of dancers, teachers and choreographers, encouraging many to travel to New York and join the company.

Ailey’s dance was induced by what he describes as the “blood memories” of his life in Texas including the gospel, the spirits and blues music. This deeply personal combination is what prompted him to make his most celebrated and critically acclaimed work Revelations. This production portrays the spirit of struggle and the human condition and will make up a quarter of each of the two programmes scheduled to be performed in Buenos Aires. For those who are interested; Programme A includes Revelations by Ailey, Petite Mort by Jioi Kylian, Grace by Ronald K. Brown and Takademe by Battle. Programme B will consist of Revelations, Minus 16 by Ohad Naharin, Strange Humours by Battle and From Before by Garth Fagan.

Alvin Ailey’s Revelations in action

For more information on what to see in Buenos Aires visit www.sayhueque.com