Danceletter Picks
I haven’t come up with anything terribly interesting to say about The Nutcracker or Revelations, despite hinting at forthcoming commentary the last time I wrote. With respect to Revelations (the Alvin Ailey classic), if you’ve never seen it, now’s the time; it closes out almost every program in the company’s winter season, which continues at City Center through Dec. 31. If you’re not in NYC or otherwise can’t make it, check out this free recording of a 2015 performance. (Rewind a bit, and you’ll find what might be my all-time favorite work for the Ailey company, Ronald K. Brown’s Grace.)
In other Ailey news, there are two more chances this season to catch Kyle Abraham’s ultra-feel-good Are You In Your Feelings?, which premiered last year. A journey through relationship highs and lows and in-betweens, it shows off Abraham’s skill — not to be underestimated — at assembling an irresistible playlist that gives rise to deeply felt dancing. This one includes Erykah Badu, Jazmine Sullivan, Kendrick Lamar, and more.
Over at Lincoln Center, India Bradley made history last week as the first Black woman in New York City Ballet’s long lineage to dance the role of Dewdrop in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. She’ll dance it again at the Dec. 23 and 26 matinees.