A group of dancers support a central woman, guiding her on a spiritual quest to find light in Robert Battle’s new work, Searchlight, inspired by the relationship of Ailey II Artistic Director Francesca Harper and her late mother, Denise Jefferson (former director of The Ailey School). With his signature musical sophistication, Battle juxtaposes the tension of Steve Reich’s “It’s Gonna Rain, Part II” with the healing quality of Renée Fleming and Christoph Eschenbach’s “Nacht Und Träume, D.827,” finding equilibrium between the extremes just as the dancers find perfect balance in motion.

Music Credits

* “It’s Gonna Rain, Part II (1965)” Steve Reich by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, publisher and copyright owner
“Nacht Und Träume, D.827” performed by Renée Fleming & Christoph Eschenbach

Searchlight is commissioned in celebration of the birthday of Ethel Klein and her deep commitment to Ailey.