Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre coming to The Lyric

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It was a dream, come true. Baltimore School for the Arts graduate Jacqueline Green would be returning to her native town to dance with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.

“I was so excited,” recalled Green who has performed with Alvin Ailey since 2011. “I couldn’t wait.”

But then, the Baltimore riots happened.

“Our performance had to be cancelled because of the rioting in Baltimore,” said Green. “I was so disappointed.”

A year later, Green’s dream will finally come true. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre will be in Baltimore for two performances on April 26, 2016 and April 27, 2016 at The Lyric on Mt. Royal Avenue. The performance is part of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2016 North American Tour.

“There’s nothing like performing in your hometown,” said Green, who is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts “There is so much love. I can only imagine what it it’s going to be like. I grew up in The Alameda area. I can’t wait to see my family and friends. It is going to be great.”

When Alvin Ailey began creating dances, he drew upon his “blood memories” of Texas, the blues, spirituals, and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work, Revelations, which will be performed during the Baltimore engagement.

“I saw ‘Revelations’ years ago, and it made me want to join Alvin Ailey,” said Green. “I was so inspired by ‘Revelations’, and here I am doing it.”

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance. The Ailey Company has gone on to perform for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents.

In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution designated the Company as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world” that celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.

The Baltimore performance will feature Awakening, Robert Battle’s first world premiere since becoming artistic director. Other world premieres include Open Door by Ronald K. Brown, Exodus by Rennie Harris, the Company premiere of Paul Taylor’s Piazzolla Caldera, and new productions of works by Judith Jamison, Talley Beatty, and Ailey.

Green will dance throughout the Baltimore engagement and will be among the dancers in Ailey’s piece “Cry.”

“Alvin Ailey choreographed ‘Cry’ for his mother,” said Green. “It is powerful, and is dedicated to his mother and women everywhere. I am honored to [have been] chosen to perform with such an elite group of women who perform this dance. To be able to do ‘Cry’ in Baltimore is wonderful.”

The 26-year-old Green was invited to join Ailey by Battle for his premiere season as Artistic Director, after she graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in Dance and toured the world with Ailey II. She has performed works by a variety of choreographers, which also include Judith Jamison, Ronald K. Brown, Rennie Harris, Kyle Abraham, Elisa Monte, and Aszure Barton.

Green is the recipient of a 2014 Dance Fellowship from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA and is a 2015 Clive Barnes Award nominee. She is also the recipient of the 2009 Martha Hill Fund’s Young Professional Award and the 2010 Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship.

“I love to dance and it always feels good,” said Green. “It is so thrilling. This is where I want to be. Performing with Alvin Ailey has allowed me to travel and perform in front of thousands of people. I can’t wait to come to Baltimore. The fact that we are now able to come to Baltimore after the cancellation last year, makes it even more special.”

Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Lyric box office. For more information call 410-547-SEAT, or visit: www.ticketmaster.com.