The acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance will simultaneously celebrate tradition and innovation
Theater company at Sadler’s Wells this September, with two contrasting mixed bills – Legacy and New Works – staged in alternating performances over one week.
The company, which was founded nearly seven decades ago by pioneering American dancer, choreographer and activist Alvin Ailey Jr, returns to London for its first international tour under the leadership of new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack.
“After performances from coast-to-coast in the United States, I am proud to be leading the company forward on an international tour launching in London,” Graf Mack said.
“Our performances celebrating the human spirit through dance will uplift with classic treasures, including the enduring masterpiece Revelations – the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy, and with new works by renowned choreographers as we step into the future with truth and bold virtuosity. The brilliant artistry of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater moves us all, and we are excited to share Alvin Ailey’s gift to the world with audiences at Sadler’s Wells, a special place in our history, and presenting dance that inspires.”
The Legacy programme presents classic repertoire from Alvin Ailey’s catalogue, including the jazz-infused Night Creature; the yearning male solo A Song For You; and an excerpt of the tour-de-force female solo Cry. This programme also features Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, a rapturous blend of modern and West African dance.
The New Works programme features creations from respected contemporary choreographers, including Medhi Walerski’s intriguing Blink of an Eye; Lar Lubovitch’s ethereal Many Angels; Jamar Roberts’ meditative Song of the Anchorite; and Judith Jamison’s sensual duet set to Joni Mitchell’s classic tune A Case of You.
The inspiring finale of both programmes is Alvin Ailey’s enduring masterpiece Revelations, a mainstay of the company’s repertoire which has been performed continuously around the world since it first premiered in 1960 – making it the most widely seen modern dance work in the world.
Believing that dance belongs to everyone, Alvin Ailey founded the American Dance Theater company in 1958 with the mission of uplifting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and to both preserve and enrich American modern dance.
A star performer on the Ailey stage between 2005 and 2014, Alicia Graf Mack was brought into the company and mentored by Judith Jamison. After Graf Mack’s retirement from performing, she went on to distinguish herself as the Dean and Director of the Dance Division of The Juilliard School before returning to AILEY as only the fourth Artistic Director in the Company’s nearly 70-year history, going back to Alvin Ailey himself.
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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater New Works 15 – 19 Sept 2026
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