Ruschell Boone looks at the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with current and former artistic directors Robert Battle and Judith Jamison. They also discuss the 60th season, which is having performances at New York City Center through December 30th.
"I take it almost like a mission," Yannick Lebrun of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater said of performing "Sinner Man" from "Revelations," Ailey's 1960 masterpiece set to African-American spirituals. " 'Sinner Man' is a very powerful, propulsive section of 'Revelations' that shows who we are as Ailey men, but it definitely also has a deeper story: You're running for your life."
There is still time to vibrate with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater troupe on our big scene in the cadre of dance! The first one packed up yesterday with a standing ovation of more than 10 minutes.
Aujourd’hui, Axelle Simon reçoit le danseur français Yannick Lebrun, actuellement à l'affiche des Étés de la danse de la Seine musicale, à Paris. De formation classique, ce Guyanais est repéré à l’âge de 14 ans dans un concours de danse.
Le jeune Guyanais est la vedette de la compagnie américaine Alvin Ailey, tête d'affiche de Estés de la danse, à Paris. Recontre.
Il a 30 ans, il fait l'affiche d'Alvin Ailey pour la saison 2016-17, il est franҫias. Sur l'affiche, il danse couvert de peinture verte et jaune. L'image est si forte qu'une partie du courrier reҫu par la compagnie émane de spectateurs surpris de ne pas avoir vu, lorsqu'ils étaient dans la salle...
Rachael McLaren, Yannick Lebrun and Jacqueline Green performed the “Wade in the Water” section of Revelations to promote the national tour.
Everyone expects professional dancers to be in great shape. But a company like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, with an annual five-week season in New York, 150 days a year on tour and over 200 performances annually, requires Herculean physical strength and extraordinary mental clarity. Each Ailey dancer develops a personalized regimen to sustain their energy and ward off injuries, all while maintaining some semblance of "normal" life.
Yannick Lebrun, the only french company dancer Alvin Ailey, a lot of talent, and a good dose of luck. In 2001, the Guyanese was spotted by the Alvin Ailey School Director, at a dance in Martinique contest. He was 14 years old.
On December 11, during the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater season at New York City Center, Yannick Lebrun will turn 26. He as the night off. "To be honest with you," he whispers conspiratorially, "I wanted to dance."