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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will perform March 3 for 2,000
elementary school students at the Arlington Theatre.
The Children’s Creative Project (CCP), an arts education program
of the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and Santa Barbara Bowl’s
Education Outreach, are presenting this free program. The special youth
performance is co-sponsored and made possible in collaboration with
UCSB Arts & Lectures.
The company will perform for the public at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March
2 at the Arlington Theater as one of the ArtAbounds performances presented
by The Lobero and UCSB Arts & Lectures.
Since its inception in 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has
performed for an estimated 19 million people throughout the United
States and in nearly 70 other countries, earning the company a reputation
as an ambassador of American culture. This unique company continues
to honor Ailey’s vision of creating a repertory company dedicated
to the preservation of unique black cultural heritage.
Ailey began his formal dance training with Lester Horton, a West Coast
modern dance pioneer and founder of the first racially integrated dance
company in this country. His independent career began when, after Horton’s
death in 1958, he directed the company until it disbanded.
In 1958, he formed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, based in New
York. The Ailey Company performs classical ballet and modern works
by well-known choreographers, but is best known for pieces drawn from
Ailey’s African American background. These masterpieces capture
the essence of his black experience in America and feature music and
material based on African American cultural heritage such as blues,
spirituals, and jazz.
During his lifetime, he choreographed 79 ballets. Judith Jamison has
been artistic director of the troupe since Ailey’s untimely death
in 1989. For schoolchildren at the Arlington, the company will perform
Juba by Choreographer Robert Battle and Ailey’s signature piece
Reflections — a tribute to black heritage in America.
“
The performance is part of the CCP’s larger arts education program
that provides visual and performing arts workshops conducted by resident
artists in 50 elementary schools reaching 25,000 students,” explained
County Superintendent Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the program. “In
addition, the CCP presents more than 500 performances per year for
60,000 students in 150 schools throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis
Obispo counties.”
Similarly, the Santa Barbara Bowl’s Education Outreach gives
back to the community essential support for local youth arts programs.
The Bowl works in conjunction with local schools to develop mutually
beneficial projects and to establish community partnerships by involving
members of the local student population. Funding for the Education
Outreach comes from private donations and proceeds from special events
and concerts.
“
We are thrilled to co-present with the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
this exciting and unique opportunity for school children,” said
Kathy Koury, executive director of CCP. “Both the Children’s
Creative Project and the Bowl are grateful to Bruce Corwin, owner of
the Metropolitan Theatres Corporation, for donating the use of the
Arlington Theatre.”
Funding to support this event is provided in part by the I Madonnari
Italian Street Painting Festival produced by the Children’s Creative
Project to benefit their arts education programs. In addition, the
performance is funded in part by a grant from the Hutton Foundation.
Please note: The March 3 performance is not open to the general public.
There is a public performance on March 2.
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