Nan Melville
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs "Hymn," a piece by the company's artistic director, Judith Jamison. The company will perform the piece Sunday.
The company members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater could no doubt turn the hokey pokey into an art form. Such is the spirit and intensity of their movement when they take the stage. To look at their slender arms, muscular thighs, and bodies that travel through space more like liquid than flesh is to witness some of the world’s most incredible dance alchemy.
Their captivating presence is also a window into the mind of Judith Jamison, celebrating her 20th anniversary as artistic director. In the selection of her dancers, she adds fresh emotional layers to vintage choreography, and continues to generate awe and wonder for audiences.
Presented by Cultural Arts For Everyone, the Ailey company’s visit to the Orpheum this weekend bursts with energy, sass and moments — ahem — of revelation.
Friday night, Jamison opened the program with Ailey’s 1974 work “Night Creatures,” an accessible piece full of the choreographer’s insights into not only ballet and Modern, but Broadway, jazz and swing.
At front and center, dancer Linda Celeste Sims was a force of sheer seduction, her swishing hips, arms and eyes exuding that rare combination of sexual confidence and girlish vulnerability. The women in the audience gave this enthralling everywoman shouts of approval.
It’s a shame that Robert Battle’s riveting 2008 solo “In/Side,” set to Nina Simone’s “Wild Is the Wind,” was only on Friday’s program, because everyone in America should see dancer Samuel Lee Roberts contract and contort himself into the living embodiment of heartache.
The 1971 work “Suite Otis,” by George Faison (the Tony-winning choreographer of “The Wiz”) was a treat for Memphis. Set to music by Stax recording artist Otis Redding, the joyously retro work — complete with dancers in neon pink costumes — has soul to spare. Vignettes of love and passion complement the smart selection of songs. As men strut across the stage with proud elbows and women make bold overtures, the piece surges forward to the climactic “Try a Little Tenderness.”
Within Ailey’s tried and true 1960 classic “Revelations,” are the bones of every liturgical dance choreographed since then. As many times as these dancers have performed the work, you’ll be hard pressed to find a company member not putting the utmost heart and soul into the movement. The standing ovation that ensued was entirely earned.
The company’s final show is 3 p.m. today, featuring “Suite Otis,” “Revelations” and one of Jamison’s own classic pieces, “Hymn.” For tickets, call 525-3000.
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