Sat/Sun, Aug 25 & 26, 2012

West Coast Swing & Hustle
Student Showcase
at The Ailey Citigroup Theater

16 Groups / 225 Performers
Ailey Citigroup Theater
New York, NY

West Coast Swing and Hustle has been invited to perform again at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City as part of the "Performing in NY Experience" on Saturday, August 25 and Sunday August 26, 2012. This prestegious production of diverse dances is produced by Kat Wildish (former NY City Ballet dancer and one of the top teachers of the Ailey Extension Program).

So good, they were asked to do it again!

The West Coast Swing and Hustle medley was choreographed by Erik & Anna Novoa for their advanced classes in Norwalk, CT. Their group was originally invited to perform in 2011 and was so well received that it has been asked to be a part of the "Performing in NY Experience" again.

Help your friends expose new audiences to our dances!

Come watch and support your West Coast Swing and Hustle friends as they perform West Coast Swing & Hustle on a New York City professional stage (last year was the first time that any student group had done this in the United States). These dancers will become ambassadors to a new audience of dance enthusiasts. Your support will make them feel at home.

Follow our journey!

Last year, we created a choreography blog section to document the journey to this great stage. This second performance run is going to be just as big!

Schedule:

Saturday, August 25, 2012 - Show #1
6:30pm - Theater opens to general public (seating is first come / first serve)
7:00pm - Show Time

10:00pm - After Party

Sunday, August 26, 2012 - Show #2
2:30pm - Theater opens to general public (seating is first come / first serve)
3:00pm - Show Time

Sunday, August 26, 2012 - Show #3
6:30pm - Theater opens to general public (seating is first come / first serve)
7:00pm - Show Time

Tickets

Tickets are available through the Alvin Ailey web site:

Ticket information coming soon!

(Please be aware that seating is open and is on a first-come, first-serve basis)

Location:

The show will be at the Ailey Citigroup Theater which is located at The Alvin Ailey School.

Ailey Citigroup Theater
405 West 55th Street (Ninth Ave)
New York, NY

Being invited to perform as a group

SwingShoes Entertainment's West Coast Swing & Hustle group was personally invited to participate in the "Performing in New York Experience" in 2011 produced by Kat Wildish, who was the Grand Marshal at the 2011 Dance Parade in New York City and ballet teacher of The Ailey Extension Program. She has personally known Anna since 2005. Kat met Erik in 2006 when Anna brought her new boyfriend to ballet class.

Kat invited the West Coast Swing & Hustle group to perform based upon videos of their prior performances and the teaching skills of Erik & Anna Novoa.

It is one of the highest honors to be invited to perform on the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater stage. It is almost impossible to appreciate how challenging it can be to be presented with such an opportunity, but we are certain that we can live up to the grand expectation of exposing a new audience to West Coast Swing & Hustle.

Why is Alvin Ailey important?

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the premier dance companies in the world. Its history is deeply intertwined with racial equality, freedom of artistic expression and breaking of both cultural and choreographical barriers. When the company was founded in 1958, Alvin Ailey, the man, was surrounded by racial and cultural issues that were pervasive in the United States. In 1962, the US State Department sponsored his company's first international tour.

It is said that Alvin Ailey did not want his company to be a showcase only for his work. Today, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has more than 200 works by more than 70 choreographers. Alvin Ailey hired dancers based upon their merit, not their race. He wanted his company to be multiracial and ethnically diverse.

Alvin Ailey today

From their recent press release:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” is currently in the midst of a tour to 24 North American cities. Led by the renowned Judith Jamison in her final year as Artistic Director, and joined by Artistic Director Designate Robert Battle, the
performances celebrate five decades of Revelations, an American classic called a must?see for all people. For further information visit: www.alvinailey.org