When Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations” premiered in 1960, critics speculated that it might be one of the single greatest contributions to the American art form in modern-day history. With the Thursday, Feb. 10, opening night at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, the dance suite’s place in the annals of art is confirmed. It is a masterpiece.
The Alvin Ailey Dance Company artistic director, Judith Jamison, who is ending her reign as the company’s artistic director and passing the torch to former dancer Robert Battle, remarked that the Atlanta opening night audience of 4,200 was the largest of any opening night in the company’s history. Jamison received a proclamation in absentia from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed that recognized her contributions to American culture. Battle was then brought to the stage for the artistic director designate’s formal introduction to arts patrons and Ailey supporters.
“No matter if you’re across the street or across the ocean, you connect to the humanity of [Revelations]. Everybody knows something about trial and tribulation, hope and despair. So there’s some connection. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been to a gospel church, if you know the songs, or if you know the words. You know the feeling.” Battle explained in an interview with Creative Loafing magazine.
A short film, “Revelations at 50,” was shown prior to the dance suite to familiarize younger audience members with Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison and the origins of the work, which was inspired by the resolve of African Americans to understand and overcome adversity through the triumph of the human spirit.
Alvin Ailey contended that one of America’s richest treasures was the cultural heritage of the African American spirit — “sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful.”
“Revelations” and the Alvin Ailey dance company, comprised of 30 of the world’s best dancers, will leave Atlanta on Sunday, Feb. 13, and travel to Florida for the next leg of its tour. –roz edward
