REVIEW | Ailey 2, UK Tour

Ailey 2 in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Nir Arieli

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Katie

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

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The Ailey 2 company bridges the classroom to the stage, giving dancers from the renowned Alvin Ailey School the opportunity to develop their professional practice over a 2 year tenure. They might be early career dancers, but these 12 performers rivalled even the most experienced of dancers in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (AAADT) company, bringing a freshness, vibrancy and individuality to the Hippodrome stage.

Presented by Dance Consortium, Ailey 2 brings an extraordinary repertory of 4 works to this performance; William Forsythe’s Enemy in the Figure (excerpt), Francesca Harper’s Freedom Series (excerpt), Robert Battle’s The Hunt, and Alvin Ailey’s beloved masterpiece Revelations.

Enemy In The Figure (Excerpt)

William Forsythe uses this abstract, dynamic work as a chance to really showcase the strength and talent of each individual dancer on stage. Its intensity frames sheer agility and technical mastery, clearly driven by the powerful rhythms of the electronic / percussive score and moody lighting. Fringed trousers and angular shapes were paired with structured improvisation in this piece, which the dancers handled expertly. Despite having a typical Ailey-esq style, each dancer performs with a unique and intuitive personal stamp, which was lovely to see through the series of solos. It was intense, atmospheric and thrilling, and I couldn’t stop thinking what an honour it would be to choreograph on these powerhouse dancers.

Freedom Series (Excerpt)

Francesca Harper’s choreography certainly leans more human and emotional compared to Ailey's previously more traditional works in this excerpt. You can see the influence of her musical theatre background through the heavy storytelling in this piece which connects it to 21st-century people, and it was a breath of fresh air. The Freedom series plays with vignettes and memories of life, contrasting beautiful tender moments, with experimental choices like the use of the orbs of light and dancing in absolute silence. While the solos are unmistakably impressive, the statement and power of the performers en masse was absolutely breathtaking.

The Hunt

This performance has always been epic to watch every time I have had the pleasure of seeing it, and this was no exception. It is ferocious and explosive, pulsing with ritualistic and animalistic action with the driving heartbeat rhythms. Dancers Andrew Bryant, Spencer Everett, Patrick Gamble and Alfred L. Jordan II pushed Robert Battle’s choreography to its limits, bringing a visceral intensity that was unrivalled by any other piece in this collection of works. The choreography is heavily masculine presenting, but interestingly quite commonly shown through typically feminine movements, which beckoned an elegance that was absolutely beautiful.

Revelations

A piece embedded in the Ailey history, and a signature performance of both AAADT and Ailey 2, this piece celebrates the African American experience through the spectrum of spirituality, grief and joy. As always, the choreography took us on a journey in 3 parts, with striking sincerity and emotional dexterity at each point. It is an iconic work for a reason, and it is clear why audiences come back time and time again for this alone. The precision of the dancers is second to none and they are an exemplar example of dance excellence in this piece in particular.

Dancer Spencer Everett had a huge weight on his shoulders being the only white dancer in the cast, and I was grappling with how this might work in a piece about the black experience. This remained tricky to navigate, but I felt the company managed to maintain a sensitivity towards this, not putting him at the focal point of many of the dances in Revelations. It was in Sinner Man however, where he surpassed expectations and came into his own, and I was pleased he was able to bring his formidable energy and passion to the work in a more appropriate moment.

I had the pleasure of seeing and studying AAADT at college level and it is a real joy to see it continue to grow and develop with each new piece it presents. Under the Artistic direction of Francesca Harper, this collection of 4 pieces from Ailey 2 really set the scene for the growth of the company, taking us on a journey of their development that was curated to perfection.

Hugely impactful and resonant with audiences everywhere, Ailey 2 is certainly not to be missed on its tour of the UK for the rest of October.