ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER RETURNS TO THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE WITH SIX CHICAGO PREMIERES AND CLASSIC FAVORITES MARCH 6 - 15, 2015

CHICAGO — Returning to Chicago for the longest stop on a robust 18-city U.S. Tour, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater graces the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University’s landmark stage March 6 – 15, 2015. After accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle leads the company for his fourth year as Artistic Director challenging “America’s Cultural Ambassador to the World” with bold new work as well as classic favorites. Tickets ($32 – $97) are on sale now and available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E. Congress Pkwy). Student Matinee performances are offered on March 12 and 13, open to any elementary through high school student for $15 each. For more information please call (312) 341-2357.

“For over 45 years the Auditorium has been the Chicago home for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and we are once again thrilled to have them back on our stage to celebrate with us during our milestone 125th Anniversary Season,” said Auditorium Theatre Executive Director Brett Batterson. “The Presidential Medal of Freedom that was recently awarded to Alvin Ailey could not have been more deserved and speaks to the long lasting legacy that Mr. Ailey, Judith Jamison and now Robert Battle continue to carry on from generation to generation.”

Artistic Director Robert Battle who “[takes] the troupe in new directions while maintaining its beloved traditions,” (Chicago Tribune) continues to enhance the already rich repertory of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater by combining a vibrant array of new choreographic voices with classical and traditional pieces. Not only does Battle bring in choreographers from around the world to work with the company, he also looks inside the Ailey family as seen with the recent premiere of “ODETTA” by Ailey dancer and Rehearsal Director Matthew Rushing. The diverse Chicago programming also features exciting new work including the company premieres of Christopher Wheeldon’s “After the Rain (Pas de Deux),” Hofesh Shechter’s “Uprising,” Ulysses Dove’s “Bad Blood,” Asadata Dafora’s “Awassa Astrige/Ostrich” and Hans van Manen’s “Polish Pieces.”

Other pieces include Ronald K. Brown’s “Grace,” Ulysses Dove’s “Episodes” as well as Ailey’s personal masterpiece, “Revelations.”

After marking 25 years since the passing of Alvin Ailey with accepting the Presidential Medal of Honor on his behalf, it is only fitting that we return to our landmark Chicago home to celebrate with them during their 125th Anniversary,” said Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle. “Just as Mr. Ailey told a story through dance, the Auditorium tells a story through the incredible history of talent that has graced its stage. We are always thrilled to present both new work and some of our favorites to Chicago audiences and we look forward to the next 125 years of performing at the Auditorium.”

Community Engagement Programming

In tandem with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Auditorium’s Department of Creative Engagement utilizes innovative programming to engage Chicago students and the community by highlighting the importance of dance and artistic expression.

The Auditorium Theatre Master Class Series continues with four Ailey Master Class opportunities. High school, pre-professional, and adult dancers with intermediate to advanced dance experience are invited to learn from some of the most accomplished dancers working today in various dance styles including hip-hop, modern and Horton technique. Classes take place on Saturday, March 7 and Saturday, March 14, 2015 and are free for all CPS Students, $10 for college students and $20 for dancers. All classes are limited to 30 participants. For more information or to sign up, please email atru-education@auditoriumtheatre.org or call (312) 341-2359 for an application.

Program Schedule and Ticket Information

Week 1
Friday, March 6 | 7:30pm: ODETTA / Episodes / Revelations
Saturday, March 7 | 2:00 & 8:00pm: Polish Pieces / Awassa Astrige-Ostrich / Bad Blood/ Revelations
Sunday, March 8 | 3:00pm: ODETTA / Episodes / Revelations

Week 2
Thursday, March 12 | 7:30pm: Grace / Uprising / After the Rain (Pas de Deux) / Revelations
Friday, March 13 | 7:30pm: ODETTA / Episodes / Revelations
Saturday, March 14 | 2:00pm: ODETTA / Episodes / Revelations
Saturday, March 14 | 8:00pm: Grace / Uprising / After the Rain (Pas de Deux) / Revelations
Sunday, March 15 | 3:00pm: Polish Pieces / Awassa Astrige-Ostrich / Bad Blood / Revelations

Tickets ($32 – $97) are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or in-person at Auditorium Theatre’s Box Office (50 E. Congress Pkwy). Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available at (312) 341-2357 or sales@auditoriumtheatre.org.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is part of the Auditorium’s International Dance Series, which also includes Grupo Corpo, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg and The Royal Ballet’s “Don Quixote”. Subscriptions are available at a 30% discount at (312) 341-2357 or at AuditoriumTheatre.org.

Student Matinees

Thursday, March 12 | 11:00am: ODETTA excerpt / Revelations
Friday, March 13 | 11:00am: ODETTA excerpt / Revelations

The Ailey student matinee performances are available to elementary through high school student groups of 10 or more for $15 each. For more information, please call (312) 341-2357.

The International Dance Series is sponsored by the NIB Foundation.

Auditorium Theatre’s 2014 – 15 Season:

The Auditorium Theatre 2014 – 15 Season also includes Grupo Corpo (February 28 – March 1); River North Dance Chicago (March 28); Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg (May 8 – 10); Chicago Rhythm Fest (May 13); “His Way - Sinatra’s Centennial Celebration” (May 30); and The Royal Ballet’s “Don Quixote” (June 18 – 21). For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here.

About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E. Congress Pkwy, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. In September of 2014, the Auditorium Theatre was awarded the inaugural Fifth Star Award by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. On December 9, 2014, the Auditorium Theatre celebrated its 125th Birthday with a proclamation from the City of Chicago declaring it “Auditorium Theatre Day.”

The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the Sage Foundation, and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call (312) 341-2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

About Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now‐fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey, recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor, and guided by Judith Jamison beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle, whom Judith Jamison chose to succeed her on July 1, 2011. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 23 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African‐American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year‐end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami‐Dade County in Miami, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate), and appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the United States and the world during extensive yearly tours. The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people of all ages; and The Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey’s permanent home — the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world — named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit alvinailey.org.

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