Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater announces programming for Chicago shows

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s visits to the Auditorium Theatre are always worth catching, for the company’s superb dancers—even if the quality of its repertoire hasn’t always met their talents.

That looks to be less an issue during AAADT’s next Chicago visit, April 11–15, its first under new artistic director Robert Battle. Dances by two very different heavyweights, American Paul Taylor and Israeli dance maker Ohad Naharin, are now in the Ailey company’s portfolio, the latter represented by Minus 16 (1999), for a long time Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s signature closer.

AAADT also plans to present Home by Rennie Harris, which premiered in December to positive reviews. Memoria (1979) and Revelations (1960) are by the company’s founder; Battle’s solo Takademe, which many will recognize from Chicago Dancing Festivals past, completes the lineup.

The performance schedule and ticket info are after the jump.

April 11 at 7:30pm: Arden Court (Taylor), Minus 16 (Naharin), Revelations (Ailey)
April 12 at 7:30pm: Memoria (Ailey), Home (Harris), Takademe (Battle), Revelations (Ailey)
April 13 at 7:30pm: Arden Court (Taylor), Minus 16 (Naharin), Revelations (Ailey)
April 14 at 2pm: Memoria (Ailey), Home (Harris), Takademe (Battle), Revelations (Ailey)
April 14 at 8pm: Arden Court (Taylor), Minus 16 (Naharin), Revelations (Ailey)
April 15 at 3pm: Memoria (Ailey), Home (Harris), Takademe (Battle), Revelations (Ailey)

Tickets are $30–$90; call 800-982-2787, visit the Auditorium Theatre box office (50 E Congress Pkwy) or go to auditoriumtheatre.org.