Evening with the elite

Ailey II brings top-flight modern dance to Whitefish

When some of the country's top young dancers take the Whitefish Center for the Performing Arts stage for the March 2 performance by Ailey II, the event may be one of the highest-caliber ever produced by the Whitefish Theatre Co.

Ailey II, one of the country's foremost modern-dance troupes in the African-American style, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with a 30-date North American tour.

Ailey II representatives contacted Whitefish Theatre Co. more than a year ago, hoping to fill an open date between shows in Banff, Alberta, and Pocatello, Idaho.

"If we could take a night of the week that was not prime time, then we could get into a range of money we could afford," Gail Cleveland, head of promotions and booking for the Whitefish Theatre Co., said. "We thought it was a great opportunity."

Alvin Ailey became one of the most important choreographers and promoters of the African-American form of modern dance. His signature work is "Revelations," which is on the program for the Whitefish performance.

Ailey died in 1989, but his legacy continues through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, both based in New York City. Ailey II was created in 1984 as a way of promoting young dance talent as well as emerging choreographers.

Bringing in Ailey II has not required much more work than the usual touring act for the Whitefish Theatre Co. Though it's double what many performers require for a Whitefish performance, Ailey II's fee of about $8,000 seems reasonable for such a prestigious act, Cleveland said.

Housing the large group would have pushed expenses beyond the Whitefish Theatre Co. budget, but Whitefish Lake Lodge is providing 14 rooms for the dozen dancers and their support staff. McGarry's Roadhouse also is a local sponsor.

Cleveland said Whitefish Theatre Co. is not worried about generating interest.

"I think we're pretty confident that there's quite a dance community here," Cleveland said. "People like good dance in the Flathead Valley, and it doesn't come very often. There's also great support for local dance."

Without the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, the show would not be possible, since the O'Shaughnessy Center provides about 150 fewer seats than the 470 at the Whitefish Middle School facility. The arts center also has a proscenium stage, with the sides and back of the stage hidden from the audience, a requirement for the company.

The company also needs state-of-the-art lighting equipment, though it brings its own lighting personnel.

The dance floor is being provided by the Dance Art Center in Kalispell. Dance Art Center owner Marisa Roth has seen the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in California.

"It was an amazing performance," Roth said. "It's such a privilege for the Flathead Valley to have them come here and dance for us.

"My whole modern program at the studio is really excited. It's good that the kids have a chance to see modern dance in this realm. They're going to blow us away."

Since its beginning, Ailey II has been under the artistic direction of the renowned Sylvia Waters. Waters has a bachelor's degree from The Juilliard School in dance, studying with Antony Tudor and Martha Graham. As a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she toured throughout the United States, South America, Europe and the Soviet Union as a principal dancer.

Troy Powell, associate artistic director, toured the world for 10 years as a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before becoming a master teacher at The Ailey School and resident choreographer of Ailey II.

Each of the Ailey II dancers boasts an impressive biography of elite training and experience. The dancers come from throughout the country as well as Trinidad and Tobago, and Korea.

Show time for the March 2 performance of Ailey II is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 for adults or $19 for students and seniors with reserved seating. To purchase tickets, call 862-5371 or stop by the O'Shaughnessy Center box office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Reporter Heidi Gaiser may be reached at 758-4431 or by e-mail at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com