Surface Magazine - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Debuts Rockefeller Center’s First-Ever Dance Film
In 1931, construction began on Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan—the beginning of a city within the city. That year, groundbreaking dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey was born in Rogers, Texas. With “Rise,” the first-ever dance film anchored in the New York City landmark, the work of Alvin Ailey soars across Rockefeller Center, from its storied observation level to the gilded sculpture of Prometheus and even the elevated gardens of Radio Park. In the short, seven dancers, styled in looks from New York designers like LUAR and Collina Strada, translate signature Ailey choreography to “Baddy on the Floor,” a rousing sonic collaboration between Jamie xx and Honey Dijon.
