Ailey 2

Alvin Ailey is one of the most iconic dancers of the last century. We are hugely excited to welcome his company of dancers on its first ever visit to Norwich!

Ailey 2 is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of incredible dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers.

This show includes Alvin Ailey’s much-loved Revelations, Robert Battle’s thrilling The Hunt, Francesca Harper’s the tender and hopeful Freedom Series and the incredible energy of William Forsythe’s Enemy in the Figure (excerpt).

Founded by Alvin Ailey, the company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people.

We are delighted that the company are also offering a free taster workshop for 16-18 year old boys who are interested in dance, or beginning to pursue dance as a professional pathway. Find out more here.

Repertoire

Enemy in the Figure (excerpt) is the intensely propulsive central section of William Forsythe’s eponymous work. Originally created in Germany (1989) for his ensemble, Ballet Frankfurt, the full work has been performed in major venues across the globe. Thom Willem’s percussive and rhythmically driving electronic score was the source of the work’s choreographic invention and influenced the radical use of light and shadow in the original stage design. This excerpt puts the formidable dance skills of the Ailey 2 dancers on fine display, giving their craft and vitality an invigorating framework.

Inspired by her Ailey homecoming, Francesca Harper’s Freedom Series travels through a landscape of memories creating a series of vignettes that embody and imagine a hybrid world where memory strives to influence the future.  Depicted through this futuristic lens, and developed in collaboration with the Ailey 2 dancers, Harper’s work examines identity and community.  With costumes by designer Elias Gurrola and a score featuring a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, Freedom Series’ unexpected twists and turns bridge tender moments to its intrinsic ferocity.

Robert Battle’s athletic work reveals the predatory side of human nature and the primitive thrill of the hunt. A thundering percussion soundtrack by Les Tambours du Bronx drives the explosive movement that runs the gamut from modern sports to the rituals of the gladiators in Battle’s The Hunt.

Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Alvin Ailey’s Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. Ailey said that one of America’s richest treasures was the cultural heritage of the African-American: “sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful.” This enduring classic is a tribute to that heritage and to Ailey’s genius.

Why not visit our restaurant…

Make your theatre trip extra special and dine in Prelude, a fresh and contemporary space inspired by the building’s art deco heritage.

With the hassle taken out, relax and enjoy our seasonal set price menu in Prelude. Your table is reserved for the whole evening, so you can enjoy your dessert and drinks in the show interval. Plus, Theatre Royal Friends can enjoy a 10% discount!