Robert Battle and his cousin Dessie Horne, who raised him, pose for a photo at the African Heritage Cultural Art Center in Liberty City on Jan. 18. Robert Battle is the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Ever since Miami-raised Robert Battle became artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the company has been embraced here not just with enthusiasm, but with pride. That sense of ownership was amplified at the troupe's Thursday opening at the Adrienne Arsht Center, which co-sponsored the first dance Battle has made for the Ailey company since he took charge in 2011.
It's been nearly five years since Robert Battle succeeded Judith Jamison as artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As with many changes in an arts organization's leadership, there were questions.
At 42, Matthew Rushing is one of Alvin Ailey's longest serving dancers. He sits down with Good Day's Karen Graham to talk about what you can expect to see during the shows at the Fabulous Fox Theater, the secret to his longevity and what inspires him to keep going.
Valentine's Day edition.
Born in Jacksonville, Robert Battle moved to Miami's Liberty City as a young boy to live with relatives. His young mother unable to care for him, raised by his loving relatives, Battle grew up surrounded by the arts and church.
Dance comes to mind, especially this week, as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicked off this year's 20-city North American tour in Washington, D.C. And the man who led off the event, who literally stepped on stage first, was none other than Matthew Rushing.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to globally expand its diverse brand of breathtaking performances under the strategic artistic direction of Robert Battle. Battle was raised here in Liberty City, Miami.
The famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is on tour, and they will be stopping at the Fox Theatre next week for an extended stay. From Feb. 10 to 14, the company will perform a collection of pieces and end each show with "Revelations," a celebrated piece by Alvin Ailey.
"It's pretty clear that there's a love affair between audiences and 'Revelations'," choreographer Alvin Ailey wrote in his autobiography, speaking of the work that would become the signature of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He was not overstating the case.