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.”
After performing for audiences in more than 30 U.S. cities over the past six months, Ailey II, the celebrated second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will take the stage at The Joyce Theater as part of the 1.2.3. Festival from April 13‐22.
Usually when you’re watching second companies perform you anticipate small mess-ups: slips, nervousness, unclean pirouettes, lack of confidence. However, this was far from the truth with Ailey II at the Joyce Theater.
On the road and out of town for many months of the year, ABT II, Ailey II, and Taylor 2 perform a signal service for the arts by bringing live dance to cities and schools across the U.S.
Dance is a renewable resource, whose passions will never run dry. To sample this abundant energy, audiences need only visit the “1, 2, 3 Festival”, and greet the next generation of youngsters discovering an irrepressible urge to soar.
