Ailey II

Ailey II performance to bridge gaps in Oklahoma City

March 16, 2011 by mitchmuse

In a recent news release Anita Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC), Inc. announced that the 8:00 p.m. Ailey II performance on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at Douglass High School Auditorium in Oklahoma City has become a family engagement activity.

“One of the common complaints we hear about lack of success in schools is that there is little or no parental involvement,” Arnold said. “As we contacted principals at Douglass High School, M. L. King, Wilson, and Highland Park Elementary Schools, for distribution of complimentary tickets to students made possible by one of the local foundations, it was suggested that this event could engage children and parents to bridge the gap between family and school. We embraced the idea.”

The idea caught on quickly and the request for tickets quickly outpaced available tickets. BLAC Inc. immediately extended their fundraising campaign to provide tickets to fill the requests.

Hundreds of children and two members of their families will have an opportunity to see and meet the artists that perform with this world renowned dance company, in their community and in one of the local high schools.

“It gives children a chance to dream and see new possibilities that they never imagined. In some cases, it may be the light in a life filled with hopelessness,” Arnold said. “We are happy to step forward to provide this service to our community. It just might inspire a student to go on to a better future with parental support.”

Family packets of 3 are available for $75, and 10 tickets may be purchased for $250 by persons or organizations interested in making a tax-deductible donation to sponsor families in the family engagement project. Donors will be acknowledged in the printed program and by letter.
Ailey II will perform several well-known pieces such as “I Been Buked,” “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” “Fix Me, Jesus” “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham” and “I Wanna Be Ready.” General admission is $30, and tickets are on sale at Capitol Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins Haircare, KM66, and Learning Tree Toys and Books. $60 tickets for reserve seating and VIP reception may be purchased through BLAC Inc. For more information on family packets, students, seniors and groups discounts, call BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (405) 524-3800 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
This performance is made possible through funding from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Filed Under: Ailey II, arts, BLAC Inc., Black Liberated Arts Center Inc., Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, performances, United States

Black Liberated Arts Center Inc. closes 40th anniversary season with Ailey II Dance Company

March 5, 2011 by mitchmuse

Ailey II’s Solomon Dumas. Photo by Eduardo Patino, NYC

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. closes its 40th anniversary season with the renowned Ailey II Dance Company from New York City at 8 p.m. March 26, 2011, in the Douglass High School auditorium, 900 N Martin Luther King Ave. in Oklahoma City, OK.

The Ailey II Dance Company, a 35-year-old company under the direction of artistic director Sylvia Waters, will perform the several well-known performances such as Revelations and Take Me to the Water.

Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training and community programs for all people using the beauty and humanity of the African-American heritage and other cultures to unite people of all races, ages and backgrounds.

While in the city, the company will conduct two master classes at Oklahoma City University and the University of Central Oklahoma. Tickets are available at BLAC Inc. or the following ticket outlets: Capitol Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz, Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins Haircare, KM66, or Learning Tree Toy Store. For group discounts, senior and student discounts contact BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800. General admission is $30, and $60 for reserved seating and VIP reception.

This event is sponsored in part by Inasmuch Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Filed Under: Ailey II, arts, Black Liberated Arts Center Inc., Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, United States

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC INC.) presents Ailey II in Midwest City

September 22, 2009 by mitchmuse

Ailey II (an Alvin Ailey Company) will perform at Rose State Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. Ailey II, one of the country’s best young dance talents, exudes spirit, energy, passion and creative vision.
Ailey II began in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, when Alvin Ailey initiated a workshop composed of the most promising scholarship students from the Ailey School. The original members of the company were handpicked by Mr. Ailey. Ailey II embodies Mr. Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training and community programs for all people. Today, Ailey II has become one of the most popular dance companies in the United States.
Anita Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. in Oklahoma City, said this will be the third time in 20 years that the company has performed in Oklahoma City. “We are looking forward to their usual vividly, electrifying dance performance as we open our 2009-10 season of performing arts,” Arnold said.
Tickets are on sale at the Civic Center box office, 201 N Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, and Rose State box office, located off Interstate 40 at Hudiburg Drive in Midwest City.
For more information, call BLAC, Inc. at (405) 524-3800 or the Civic Center box office at (405) 297-2264. Tickets are $50, $40, $30, and $20. Special discounts are available for seniors, students and groups. The performance is generously sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council.