Cowan Center Presents Ailey II
February 1, 2012
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UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Cowan Center to Present Ailey II on Feb. 14
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Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
February 1, 2012
Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Director
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303 or 903.330.0495 (cell)
The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center will present a special Valentine’s Day performance of Ailey II on Tuesday, Feb. 14, Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center executive director, announced.
Sponsored by Austin Bank, Ailey II will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. in the UT Tyler Cowan Center Vaughn Auditorium.
Media sponsors are KETK, Fox 51, KTBB and KNUE.
Tickets are $57, $52, $47, $42, $37 and $27 and can be purchased online Cowan Center, by phone at 903.566.7424 or at the box office. Box office hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to the performance.
“The Ailey dancers are some of the most talented and graceful artists, so this is a lovely gift for someone special on Valentine’s Day. You will thoroughly enjoy the stirring and engaging performances,” said Thomae-Morphew. “The program will include Donald Byrd’s Shards, Jessica Lang’s Splendid Isoltion II, The Calling, The Hunt by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s new artistic director Robert Battle and Alvin Ailey’s signature masterpiece, Revelations, will close the evening.”
Revelations tells the story of African-American faith and tenacity through a suite of dances set to spirituals and blues music.
In his autobiography, Ailey discussed the inspiration, creative process and performance of many of his works. Revelations, believed to have been performed for more people than any other ballet created in the 20th Century, receives the most in depth commentary.
Started in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Ailey II embodies Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training and community programs for all people. Today, it has become one of the most popular dance companies in the United States.
Under the artistic direction of former Ailey dancer, Sylvia Waters, and the associate artistic direction of Troy Powell, the Ailey spirit shines as these artists perform an exhilarating and diverse repertoire that includes Ailey’s timeless classics and thrilling new works by today’s most outstanding choreographers, such as Judith Jamison, Talley Beatty, Ulysses Dove, Donald Byrd and George Faison.
The company has toured extensively and performed at the world-famous Apollo Theater, the Ailey Citigroup Theater and the Joyce Theater, which is considered one of the premiere venues for dance.
They have received numerous honors, awards and proclamations in recognition of residencies at major colleges and universities as well as visits to elementary, middle and high schools across the country.
Ailey II is presented by Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, a non-profit organization which also supports the activities of the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Ailey School, Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs and the Ailey Extension. The official Ailey II U.S. Tour is sponsored by MetLife Foundation.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.