One of the most popular dance companies in the world, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will visit Copenhagen on its 2012 European Tour - so far as the only place in Scandinavia. There will be a total of 7 performances from 18 - 23 September 2012 and two different programmes. Ticket sales start today, 23 September 2011.
It is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 13th visit to Tivoli. Since its last guest performance in 2009, the Company has undergone some major internal changes.

In the summer of 2011, Robert Battle became the new Artistic Director of AAADT. Battle is the Company's first Director who was never a dancer with the AAADT. He took over from Judith Jamison, Ailey's muse, who was the Artistic Director of the Company for more than 20 years. There have also been replacements on the stage. One third of the dancers are new, young dancers who were not even born when Alvin Ailey died. For them the Ailey traditions are myths rather than memories. The challenge is now to retain the traditions while at the same time developing the Company.

Following a successful European Tour in the summer of 2011, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is now preparing its New York Season, which always takes place in December. This will be the ultimate test for Robert Battle as the new Art Director for which he must present the Company's repertory, cast the dancers, etc. However, as a force of stability and expert on the Company's traditions, he can still rely on the help of Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya, who has been with the AAADT for almost 40 years.

Peter Bo Bendixen, Tivoli's ballet master and former principal dancer at the Royal Danish Theatre, is pleased to be able to present this unique Company in Tivoli once again. For him it also brings back memories: "When I was 17, I worked with Alvin Ailey at the Royal Danish Theatre, and even though I was too young to understand my incredible luck, I intuitively understood that this was the chance of a lifetime and something I would treasure for the rest of my life. He challenged and stimulated us in a new and fun way. In a humorous and relaxed atmosphere he encouraged us to take chances and try out new ways that were very different from the practice we were used to. It was a lot of fun and very educational."

Programme
The final programme for the 2012 tour is not yet finalised, but it will include some of Alvin Ailey's own works as well as new works, e.g. some ballets by Robert Battle. But one thing is certain: Revelations will conclude programme B, and Love Stories will be part of programme A.

Alvin Ailey created his signature work Revelations in 1960. Against a musical setting of spirituals, gospel and blues, we witness the sorrows and joys of the Afro-American in what Ailey described as his 'blood memories'.

Love Stories from 2004 was created by Judith Jamison together with Robert Battle and Rennie Harris. The ballet opens with an intense solo set to Stevie Wonder's If It's Magic and ends in a display of pure joy.

Ticket prices: A: DKK 650 - B: DKK 540 - C: DKK 430 - D: DKK 320 - E: DKK 210.