Divining (solo excerpt)

Divining (excerpt) is a solo from Judith Jamison’s first major work as a choreographer for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, created in 1984 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey. At its premiere, The New York Times gave special praise to Jamison’s “invention of movement shapes and movement quality that give the piece a fascinating originality.”  Set to a score of North African, Central African, and Latin rhythms, Divining builds on African dance idioms to create a striking, pulsating modern dance work.  In her autobiography Dancing Spirit, Jamison noted that “Divining is mysterious, its title suggesting a search or quest.”