The excitement of watching new stars appearing on the horizon is what Ailey II audiences have long enjoyed as, year after year, they’ve seen young talent such as Jeroboam Bozeman and Fana Tesfagiorgis light up the Ailey II stage before making the leap to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater or to other dance troupes. Ailey II draws dancers from as close as the Bronx, such as Khalia Campbell, and as far away as France, such as Adrien Picaut. All shine in both the All New program, featuring world premieres “Road to One” by Darrell Grand Moultrie, “Touch & Agree” by Juel D. Lane and “Breaking Point” by Renee I. McDonald, and the program of contemporary favorites, with works by Jae Man Joo, Bridget L. Moore and former Ailey dancer Marcus Willis.
Moultrie, who has created previous works on Ailey II, returns with “Road to One,” a dance that passionately embraces the quest for meaning in our lives. Powell said, “Darrel’s work is so joyous and at a time when everything is so dark, we need that. I also wanted to bring them a choreographer who challenges them by highlighting their gifts and pushing them even further.”
