Home › About › Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater › Current Repertory › Revelations ›

About Revelations

Description

Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Alvin Ailey’s Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul.  More than just a popular dance work, it has become a cultural treasure, beloved by generations of fans.

Performed with LIVE MUSIC at Dec 14eve, Dec 15mat, Dec 15eve
Performed with CAST of 50 Dec 8mat, Dec 9mat, Dec 15mat, Dec 16mat

Seeing Revelations for the first time or the hundredth can be a transcendent experience, with audiences cheering, singing along and dancing in their seats from the opening notes of the plaintive “I Been ’Buked” to the rousing “Wade in the Water” and the triumphant finale, “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.”

Ailey said that one of America’s richest treasures was the African-American cultural heritage —“sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful.” This enduring classic is a tribute to that tradition, born out of the choreographer’s “blood memories” of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church. But since its premiere in 1960, the ballet has been performed continuously around the globe, transcending barriers of faith and nationality, and appealing to universal emotions, making it the most widely-seen modern dance work in the world.

50 Years in Pictures - A Historical Timeline of Revelations
Watch a short film celebrating Revelations at 50

“Every American owes it to him or herself to see the Ailey [company] perform Revelations. It is an American phenomenon. I’ve probably seen it countless times and every time it’s magical and spiritual and hopeful - everything that we want ourselves to be and hope that our country will be.”  - Oprah Winfrey on Entertainment Tonight, 12/4/08

All performances of Revelations are permanently endowed by a generous gift from Donald L. Jonas in celebration of the birthday of his wife Barbara and her deep commitment to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Performance Schedule & Tickets

Jan 30

Jan 31

Feb 1

Feb 5

Feb 6

Feb 7

Feb 8

Feb 9

Feb 10

Feb 12

Feb 14

Feb 15

Feb 16

Feb 17

Feb 19

Feb 21

Feb 22

Feb 23

Feb 24

Feb 26

Feb 27

Mar 1

Mar 2

Mar 3

Mar 5

Mar 6

Mar 8

Mar 9

Mar 10

Mar 13

Mar 14

Mar 15

Mar 16

Mar 17

Mar 19

Mar 22

Mar 23

Mar 24

Apr 9

Apr 10

Apr 11

Apr 14

Apr 17

Apr 18

Apr 19

Apr 20

Apr 21

Apr 23

Apr 24

Apr 25

Apr 26

Apr 27

Apr 28

Apr 29

Apr 30

May 3

May 4

May 10

May 11

May 12

May 17

May 18

May 19

Choreography

Alvin Ailey

Costumes

Costumes for Rocka My Soul section redesigned by Barbara Forbes

Décor & Costumes

Original décor and costumes by Lawrence Maldonado; Revival décor and costumes by Ves Harper

Lighting

Nicola Cernovitch

First Performance

New York, Kaufman Concert Hall, 92nd Street YM-YWHM. January 31, 1960. AAADT

Run Time

38 minutes

Musical Style

Traditional Spirituals

Share a Badge

Check out Ailey Inspires Me,
a new collection of official
Ailey badges for you to
share on Facebook.
Learn More

Tap class2

 

Shop

Sport our 2013 season tee. This grey unisex tee displays a dancer in flight in purple and logo in blue.
Learn More

Tap class2

 

Connect

Join the over 230,000 Ailey fans on Facebook.Become a Fan

 

Learn

Anyone can dance at Ailey! Take a Class Dancers at Extension Class

Copyright © 2013 Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sign Up

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Main Navigation

Calendar
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Join the millions worldwide who have experienced the Ailey company in person.

Ailey II

Ailey II combines the best young modern dancers with outstanding emerging choreographers.

 

Special Events

The Ailey organization hosts three fundraising galas each year, attracting luminaries in business, philanthropy, and entertainment from around the globe.

 

Classes
Dance & Fitness Classes for Adults

The Ailey Extension offers "real classes for real people" (ages 16 and up).  With more than 80 dance and fitness classes each week, there's something for everyone at any experience level.

Series for Kids & Teens Ailey offers recreational courses and pre-professional training for kids and teens ages 2-17.
 
Professional Classes

The Ailey School offers open classes for dancers with three of more years of formal or professional dance training.

 


More in Classes:

 

Support
Join the Dance

Join Ailey as a Friend or Partner and enjoy special benefits while helping to develop and expand Ailey's artistic, cultural and educational programs.

Other Ways to Give

 

Special Events

The Ailey organization hosts three fundraising galas each year, attracting luminaries in business, philanthropy, and entertainment from around the globe.

 

Shop
Official Ailey Merchandise

Our new 2012-13 collection features t-shirts and accessories in vibrant color, plus a variety of souvenirs that celebrate the artistry of Ailey.

The Music of Revelations

The music of Revelations. Dance lovers can bring home the sounds of Ailey with a newly repackaged CD celebrating 50 years of the world’s most famous modern dance work.

View our Other Products:

 

Engage
Blog

Join the conversation on Ailey's Blog.

Ailey in the News

Ailey media coverage and press releases

Watch & Listen

Clips of performances and classes on Ailey's Vimeo channel

More Ways to Engage:

About

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 by dancer, choreographer and visionary Alvin Ailey, to bring African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world.

Ailey II

Since 1974, Ailey II has been a peerless showcase for rising young dancers and choreographers.

 

The Ailey School

Our prestigious faculty trains 3,500 students annually in our Professional Division and Junior Division programs for aspiring dancers.

The Ailey Extension Now everyone can dance at Ailey with our "real classes for real people."  Choose from 25+ different dance and fitness techniques.   

Arts In Education Ailey's communty programs are committed to bringing dance to classrooms, communities and people throughout the world. 


The Ailey Legacy Ailey introduces a new college-level lecture, technique and repertory residency.

More About Us: