University of Virginia Library

Ailey's American Dance Theater
To Appear In Artists Series

By Rob Buford
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

"The cultural of
the American
America's
says Alvin Ailey
can Dance Theater
at University Hall Monday
night.

This unusual performance.
sponsored by the Artists Series,
will begin at 8:30 p.m. The
program is planned in three
major parts.

The entitled "Blues
" takes blues theme
from "the helds and barrel-houses
of the Southern Negro."
Mr. Ailey says, and
includes "songs of lost love,
despair, protest and anger
hymns to the secular regions of
his soul."

"Blues Suite" contains such
numbers as "House of the
Rising Sun" and "Backwater
Blues." The is described as
.

Part II. features
by includes
"Stoned Soul
"

The progression with
the "Revolutions."
little light of mine. I'm
let it shine.") This segment
of the production explores the
and emotions of American
Negro religious its
the it takes many forms.

The audience will be presented
with spirituals and then
sustained melodies, song-sermons.
songs and "holy blues"
songs of trouble, of love
deliverance.

"Spirituals of
antly." says Hughes,
"knowing well that all the rivers
will be crossed and the Promised
is just beyond the stream. The
ask no pity for their
words ride on the strongest of
melodies the melody of faith."

He continues, "That is why
there is joy in singing, peace in
their music and strength in their
soul."

Mr. Ailey, choreographer of all
three says his programs
combine their own dance form with
instrumental music as well as song
and acting techniques to express
themes and moods.

the divergent sources
of American culture. Mr. Ailey says
the program is "based on a
of materials representing many
influences."

The American Dance Theater's
repertoire includes the works of
Geoffrey Holder.
Horton. Paul Sanasardo as
well as those of Mr. Ailey, who
of the "amazingly rich and
American dance field."

The company has to
I on many occasions. In 1968
the group appeared at the White
House, followed in 1969 by a week
on Broadway. The New York
opening at the Billy Rose Theater
prompted the New York Times to
write that the American Theater
Company "can hold its own with
the most uncompromising dance in
the country."