New York City Center 2021
Thank You
Thank you for joining us for the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center. While it was a difficult yet necessary decision to cancel the remaining performances, the Ailey company is ever so grateful for your support and understanding. If you had tickets for one of these performances, you will receive an automatic refund after December 21, 2021. If you have questions about your refund, please contact the New York City Center Box Office at info@nycitycenter.org. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Connecting with audiences is at the heart of the Ailey experience, so Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s much-anticipated return to their home stage is a reason to rejoice. Revel in the passion these dancers bring to each program, the skill and artistry no shutdown can diminish, and the palpable joy of live performance as the Company presents a 3-week season featuring premieres by Robert Battle, celebrating his 10th season as Artistic Director, and Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts, whose acclaimed work explores these turbulent times. The season also includes returning favorites by Aszure Barton, Rennie Harris, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, plus classics by Mr. Ailey including the tour-de-force Cry (celebrating its 50th anniversary) and the beloved Revelations, a universal anthem of resilience that resounds anew in 2021.
Premieres
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Artistic Director Robert Battle’s For Four captures the pent-up energy of a world cooped up during the pandemic, expressing the drive to perform and the electricity of dancers coming together to create.
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Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts’ Holding Space is about healing and the quest for sustainable pathways towards wholeness.
New Productions
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Alvin Ailey’s Pas de Duke is a modern dance translation of a classical pas de deux that captures the sassy sophistication of Duke Ellington’s jazz music.
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Alvin Ailey’s Reflections In D is a strong yet serene solo that highlights the power and grace of the male dancer.
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Alvin Ailey’s The River is a sweeping full-company work that suggests tumbling rapids and meandering streams on a journey to the sea, set to Duke Ellington’s first symphonic score written for dance.
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Artistic Director Robert Battle’s Unfold is a sensuous, swirling duet that evokes the tenderness and ecstasy in Gustave Charpentier’s aria “Depuis Le Jour” sung by the incomparable Leontyne Price.
Season Schedule
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 7:00pm — OPENING NIGHT GALA — 2021 Opening Night Gala, Revelations
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 7:30pm — Lazarus
Friday, December 3, 2021, 8:00pm — NEW WORKS — For Four, Holding Space, Revelations
Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:00pm — 50 YEARS OF CRY — Blues Suite, Cry, Revelations
Sunday, December 5, 2021, 3:00pm — Shelter, BUSK, Revelations
Includes a free post-performance Q&A with the dancers.
Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 7:30pm — BATTLE 10TH ANNIVERSARY — Mass, Ella, In/Side, For Four, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:30pm — ALL AILEY — Memoria, Reflections In D, Revelations
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 7:30pm — NEW WORKS / Jamar Roberts Final Performance — You Are The Golden Hour That Would Soon Evanesce, For Four, Holding Space, Revelations
Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:00pm — AILEY & ELLINGTON — The River, Pas de Duke, Reflections In D, Revelations
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 8:00pm — BATTLE 10TH ANNIVERSARY — Mass, Ella, In/Side, For Four, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale
Sunday, December 12, 2021, 3:00pm — ALL AILEY — Memoria, Reflections In D, Revelations
Includes a free post-performance Q&A with the dancers.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:30pm — Blues Suite, Reflections In D, In/Side, Revelations
CANCELED — Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:30pm — 50 YEARS OF CRY — Blues Suite, Cry, Revelations — All ticketholders will be contacted via email regarding ticket refunds and donations.
CANCELED — Thursday, December 16, 2021, 7:30pm — Lazarus — All ticketholders will be contacted via email regarding ticket refunds and donations.
CANCELED — Friday, December 17, 2021, 8:00pm — BATTLE 10TH ANNIVERSARY — Mass, Ella, In/Side, For Four, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale — All ticketholders will be contacted via email regarding ticket refunds and donations.
CANCELED — Saturday, December 18, 2021, 8:00pm — Shelter, Unfold, Takademe, Love Stories finale, Revelations — All ticketholders will be contacted via email regarding ticket refunds and donations.
CANCELED — Sunday, December 19, 2021, 3:00pm — SEASON FINALE — Season Highlights, Revelations— All ticketholders will be contacted via email regarding ticket refunds and donations.
Includes a free post-performance Q&A with the dancers.
Programs, casting, and prices are subject to change without notice.
How To Get Tickets
Online
Handling fees:
$7.00 per ticket when ordering seats for one performance or $20 per Super Fan order when ordering tickets for two or more performances at same time
By Phone
212-581-1212
Hours: MON–SAT Noon–8pm; SUN Noon–7:30pm
Handling fees:
$7.00 per ticket when ordering seats for one performance
or $20 per Super Fan order when ordering tickets for 2 or more performances at same time
At the Box Office
New York City Center
131 West 55th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Aves)
Hours: MON–SAT Noon–8pm; SUN Noon–7:30pm
NOTE: The box office will be closed on Thursday, Nov 25 for Thanksgiving.
No handling fees for tickets purchased at the box office.
*A $2.50 facility fee will be added to each ticket, including those purchased at the box office.
Ways to Save
Bring a Group
Groups of 10+ save BIG. Gather 10 or more of your family, friends, or colleagues to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater return to New York City Center this December and enjoy amazing benefits. Save up to 20% on tickets and pay no services fees.
Contact us for details and assistance planning your group visit by email groupsales@alvinailey.org or by calling 212-405-9082.
Become a Member
Join today and get access to members-only benefits
Friends of Alvin Ailey
By joining the Friends of Alvin Ailey, you are supporting Ailey’s return to live performance while enjoying special member perks throughout the year. Members who contribute $150+ receive 40% off select seats to see Ailey at New York City Center*.
With a membership gift of $800+, you will have access to join the Ailey family in the VIP Lounge during intermission throughout the New York City Center engagement.
Ailey Partners
With a membership gift of $1,750+, you will have access to purchase Ailey’s house seats during our New York City Center and Lincoln Center engagements, as well as in tour cities across the country. House seats are the best seats in the house and are reserved exclusively for Ailey’s Partners. With the purchase of a house seat, you will also receive an invitation to join the Ailey family in the VIP Lounge during intermission.
*Friends of Alvin Ailey 40% savings apply to tickets regularly priced $55-$139 that are purchased between 12pm Oct 12 and 9pm Nov 22, 2021. Limit 6 tickets per performance. Valid for all performances. Not valid for the Opening Night Gala post-performance event. Standard service and facility fees apply.
Special Offers for American Express® Card Members
View information on special seating offers for American Express® Card Members.

Use the Student Discount
$15 student tickets are available from 12 noon until curtain time on the day of performance (excluding the Dec 1, Opening Night Gala post-performance event). Subject to availability; may not be purchased online or by phone. A valid student ID must be presented at the Box Office. Limit one ID per person; one ticket per ID. Restrictions may apply.
Use the Young New York Discount
Are you between the ages of 21-35? Then you qualify for Young New York (YNY) discount, a 50% savings off seats $75+ for all performances (excluding the Dec 1, Opening Night Gala post-performance event). Use the code MODERN at checkout.
*Limit 6 tickets per purchase. Purchasers must be between the ages of 21-35 as of Dec 1, 2021; guests can be any age. All tickets must be picked up at the box office where age will be verified. Offer valid from 10/12/21 - 12/19/21. Discount cannot be combined with other discounts. No retroactive discounts. All seats subject to availability. Regular service fees apply. No refunds or exchanges.
Buy More. Save More.
Order tickets for two or more performances and save 20% off your entire order.
Become an Ailey Super Fan and save 20% on tickets and enjoy reduced handling fees when you order two or more performances at the same time. Discount will be automatically applied when you order a series of performances online, by phone, or in person at the New York City Center box office.
*This offer does not apply to $29 tickets, American Express® Seating and American Express® Preferred Seating Premium Packages, or the Dec 1, 7pm Gala performance. No retroactive discounts. Discount applies to performances purchased together in one order. Cannot be combined with any other discount.
Opening Night Gala
Thank you for joining us at New York City Center for the Opening Night Gala. If you were unable to attend the benefit, watch it online December 22-28, 2021.
The Opening Night Gala kicked off Ailey’s three-week season at New York City Center. The gala featured our incredible dancers in a one-night-only performance followed by a festive dinner dance at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.
All proceeds benefited the creation of new works, scholarships to The Ailey School, and Ailey’s educational programs for children.
Special Programs
Opening Night Gala
The opening night gala performance features our incredible dancers in a one-night-only performance concluding with Alvin Ailey’s timeless masterpiece Revelations.
- Wednesday, Dec 1 at 7pm (early curtain)
Premiere Nights
Be among the first to see these premieres and new productions:
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Robert Battle’s For Four on Friday, Dec 3 at 8pm
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Jamar Roberts’ Holding Space on Friday, Dec 3 at 8pm
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Robert Battle’s Unfold on Tuesday, Dec 7 at 7:30pm
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Alvin Ailey’s Reflections in D on Wednesday, Dec 8 at 7:30pm
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Alvin Ailey’s The River and Pas de Duke on Friday, Dec 10 at 8pm
50 Years of Cry
Sunday Matinees
Includes a free post-performance Q&A with the dancers:
Battle 10th Anniversary Program
All Ailey Program
Ailey & Ellington Program
Special Season Finale
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CANCELED —
Sunday, Dec 19 at 3pm
Our Sponsors

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

This engagement has also been made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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