The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicks off its five-week holiday season tonight (December 2), with a star-studded gala benefit and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom.
Early confirmed celebrity guests for this year’s gala include Tituss Burgess, Savion Glover, Lance Gross, Tamron Hall, Janet Mock, Joe Morton and Phylicia Rashad.
The Theater’s Artistic Director, Robert Battle, has put together a stellar evening of performances: “Open Door” by Ronald K. Brown, David Parsons‘ signature gravity-defying work “Caught,” and “Revelations,” a finale with live singers including Ella Mitchell.
Founded by Alvin Ailey—recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor—the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms. The Theater promotes the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition.
Tonight’s gala benefit supports the creation of new works and Ailey’s extensive educational programs, including scholarships for the performing artists of the future. Tickets for the full season (December 2-January) start at $25 and are now on sale from AlvinAiley.org.
