Song of the Anchorite

Renowned Ailey choreographer Jamar Roberts gives a fresh take on the 1961 solo Hermit Songs, Alvin Ailey’s reaction to a set of medieval religious texts and the haunting song cycle by Samuel Barber that they inspired. The result is a powerful meditation on passion and devotion—both earthly and spiritual—danced to jazz trumpeter Avishai Cohen’s interpretation of a Ravel adagio.

Song of the Anchorite Info Sheet

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Alvin Ailey American Dance ... (Read More) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Isaiah Day in Jamar Roberts Song of the Anchorite (Hide)

Alvin Ailey American Dance ... (Read More) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Yannick Lebrun in Jamar Roberts Song of the Anchorite (Hide)

Featured News Releases

June 25, 2026

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Announces Programming For New York City Center Season December 2, 2026 - January 3, 2027

NEW YORK — UPDATED AUGUST 20, 2026 — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center’s Principal Dance Company, returns to the theater’s mainstage December 2, 2026 through January 3, 2027 for a five-week holiday engagement. Led by Daria L. and Eric J. Wallach Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, the season promises the passionate artistry and technical brilliance that make an Ailey performance a singular experience. Audiences will be treated to premieres by contemporary choreographers Jamar Roberts, Yue Yin, and William Forsythe, alongside groundbreaking classics like Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, Judith Jamison’s Hymn, and Alvin Ailey timeless Revelations— the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy.

August 20, 2025

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Announces Inaugural Season Led By Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack Launching At New York City Center December 3, 2025 - January 4, 2026, Followed By United States Tour

NEW YORK — updated August 20, 2025 — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Center’s Principal Dance Company and a beloved American cultural ambassador to the world, returns to the New York City Center stage from December 3, 2025 – January 4, 2026 for a five-week engagement, which has become a joyous holiday tradition! The milestone season raises the curtain on AILEY’s next era under the leadership of new Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, the renowned dancer and educator, guided as ever by Alvin Ailey’s pioneering legacy. Audiences will be treated to classic works from the Ailey repertory that have inspired and uplifted fans for decades — including the touchstone of inspiration Revelations, the ultimate anthem to resilience and joy, which will be performed with live music for six performances on the Opening Night Gala and opening weekend.

Featured Press Coverage

DansesAveclaPlume_AAADT_IntlTour26_Paris_YannickLebrun_Feature_10.06.26

October 6, 2026

Danses Avec La Plume - Yannick Lebrun: "Alvin Ailey is fundamentally a company that brings people together."

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Paris from October 7th to 11th at the Palais des Congrès . This provides an opportunity for another conversation with Yannick Lebrun, the French dancer with the American company . How has the company evolved since the Covid pandemic and the arrival of its new artistic director, Alicia Graf Mack, in 2025? How does the dancer see himself now within the company, having joined almost 20 years ago? What are his thoughts on the ballets in this tour, from the iconic Revelations to the new pieces? An encounter with a dancer who champions the Alvin Ailey legacy with unwavering passion.