The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater troupe is coming to Charlotte for seven performances in February, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center has announced.
The Alvin Ailey performances, followed by comedian Bill Cosby in April, are part of a 2009-10 Blumenthal lineup that includes more than 30 attractions representing music, comedy and theater.
Click here for the full schedule.
We thought Qcitymetro fans might be especially interested in the following:
Saffire the Uppity Blues Women, Fri., Oct. 2 ( 8 p.m., McGlohon Theatre)
Over the course of nine recordings and thousands of gigs, Saffire The Uppity Blues Women has gone from virtual obscurity to one of the most popular, witty and just plain satisfying acoustic blues groups on the scene today. The group currently features Ann Rabson on piano, vocals and guitar, Gaye Adegbalola on vocals and guitar, and Andra Faye on vocals, bass, mandolin, violin and guitar. The three women tear into their material with passion, dedication and originality. They are indeed the torchbearers for the original classic uppity blues women like Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace and Victoria Spivey. Tickets now on sale.
Carolina Chocoloate Drops, Thurs., Oct 15 (7:30 p.m., McGlohon Theatre)
With origins deep in the Piedmont blues of the North Carolina hill country, The Carolina Chocolate Drops breathe new life into the African-American string band tradition. The group’s three members – Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson – show a vast talent of sharing vocal duties and trading instruments throughout the show. The set features a wide variety of traditional instruments. Their music draws from the guidance of their mentor, North Carolina fiddler Joe Thompson, who schooled them on the traditions and tunes of Piedmont string-band music. Presented by MaxxMusic, Visulite Theatre & Blumenthal PAC. Tickets now on sale.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Feb. 9-14, ( Knight Theatre)
Hailed by The New York Times as being “rich with fine performers these days, both established and rising stars”, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will soon bring the beauty, power, passion and artistry that are its hallmarks back to audiences in Charlotte. Led by acclaimed Artistic Director Judith Jamison, the Company will present a diverse repertory of revered classics, recent favorites, exciting premieres and dramatic new productions. Founded in 1958 by Alvin Ailey, AAADT promote the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience combined with the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance. Tickets on sale Nov. 6.
Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, Friday, Feb. 26 (p.m., Knight Theatre)
The Monterey Jazz Festival has been a nexus for great jazz performances for over 50 years. This tour brings the magic of Monterey to Charlotte, featuring a stunning combination of current jazz greats: Kenny Barron, “one of the top jazz pianists in the world,” according to the Los Angeles Times; violinist Regina Carter, who Time magazine says “takes the listener into the future of jazz;” seven-time Grammy nominee Kurt Elling, whom the San Francisco Chronicle calls “the most flamboyantly creative jazz singer to emerge in the last decade;” and Russell Malone with what All About Jazz calls his “unique guitar voice.” Tickets on sale Nov. 6.
African Children’s Choir, March 15–16 (Knight Theatre)
The African’s Children Choir is a large choir made up of children ages 7 to 12 from several African nations. Since its inception, the choir has included children from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Many of the children have lost one or both parents to AIDS and other poverty-related diseases, and all of them are victims of extreme poverty. The choir serves as the main fund raising branch for its parent organization, Music For Life Institute, with proceeds from the choir’s work used to fund education and relief efforts for African children affected by poverty and disease. Tickets on sale Nov. 6.
BILL COSBY, Sun., April 25 (4 p.m. & 7 p.m., Belk Theater)
Over the past century, few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of William H. Cosby Jr. In the 1960s, his stand-up act was a coast-to-coast sensation, spawning a string of hilarious, best-selling comedy albums, which went on to win eight Gold Records, five Platinum records and five Grammy Awards. His role on TV’s I Spy made him the first African-American to co-star in a dramatic series. In the 1980s, he again rocked the television world with The Cosby Show. With hit movies like Uptown Saturday Night and best-selling books like Fatherhood, Bill Cosby is quite simply a national treasure with a unique ability to touch people’s hearts. Tickets on sale Feb. 26.
