28 Days of Dance: Day 11 – “Revelations” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1982)

One of Alvin Ailey’s masterworks is “Revelations,” which is now comprised of three sections had 15 when originally presented in 1960. By 1962, the piece was locked into what we see today. “Revelations” tells the story of African-American faith and tenacity from slavery to freedom through a suite of dances set to spirituals and blues music. All three sections–“Pilgrim of Sorrow”, “Take Me To The Water” and “Move, Members, Move!”–are presented below from a 1982 performance recorded at New York’s City Center. If you ever get the chance to see the company perform this live you should. I’ve seen it twice in person and it is a very moving experience.