In master's footsteps, in step with the times

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and the dancers were in full celebration mode Friday night at the Academy of Music, the 16th stop on a nationwide tour.

They rocked the house.

Headed by artistic director and Philadelphia native Judith Jamison, Ailey is about as accessible as modern dance gets. But in case anyone needed help deciphering the dance, the program listed a phone number one could call during intermission for more information about several of the pieces.

The performance opened with a short film about the late Alvin Ailey, the company's history and the golden anniversary.

The evening also followed Ailey through the ages. Reflecting that idea of looking back and moving forward was the 2004 piece "Love Stories," a collaborative work by Jamison and two other choreographers. Jamison explained in a post-performance discussion that the sections represented yesterday, today and tomorrow. Set to music by Stevie Wonder, the stories are of the love of dance. Jamison choreographed the yesterday section, which had dancers in practice clothes performing in front of a "mirror" - really the audience - and challenging one another to dance bigger jumps, better turns and more impressive step combinations.

Another Philadelphian, hip-hop dancer-choreographer Rennie Harris, choreographed the today section, which represented the first time the company performed hip-hop dance. Robert Battle, who has his own company, Battleworks, and who also creates pieces for many others, created the section representing tomorrow, with movements representing strength and power.

Despite the three points of view, the work was seamless and engaging.

It was interesting later in the evening to see "Reflections in D," a short solo danced by Matthew Rushing. Ailey choreographed it to music by Duke Ellington in 1962. Looking back, the opening scene of "Love Stories" felt like Jamison's tribute to this piece.

The evening opened with Maurice Béjart's gorgeous 1970 version of "Firebird," which often had the dancers, dressed in gray, portraying a flock of birds but sometimes moving as one bird. Two powerful men in red danced the firebird - one who eventually died, and another who rose to take his place. Unfortunately, the program did not list who danced which part, making it impossible to give credit.

It wouldn't be an Ailey celebration without "Revelations," Ailey's 1960 classic set to a selection of spirituals. It is such a well-known part of the repertoire, the company even performed the last section, "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham," on the TV show Dancing With the Stars a few weeks ago. As usual, the audience was on its feet by the end, and people left the theater smiling and singing.