Ailey II

The Next Generation of Dance

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Event Details

Save 25% with Shubert 4-TIX

Enjoy a 25% discount when you buy tickets in multiples of 4.
Select seats in multiples of 4 and add them to your cart, no promo code needed! 

Shubert 4-TIX available for:

  • Orchestra: seats labeled with "C", "D" or "E"
  • Mezzanine: seats labeled with "H", "I", "J" or box seats
  • Balcony: seats labeled with "M" or “N”

PLEASE NOTE: 4-TIX pricing will appear automatically once seats are added in multiples of 4 to the cart. This promotion is available for up to 8 tickets per order. 

If you need assistance, please call the Shubert Box Office at 203.562.5666 Monday through Friday Noon–6pm.

Student Rush Tickets Are Available

Half-price tickets are available to students with a valid I.D. as follows:

  • Student Rush tickets are available 2 hours prior to the start of each performance only at the Shubert Box Office.
  • There is a limit of 2 rush tickets per person.
  • Seating is based on availability at the time of purchase.

If you need additional information please contact the Shubert Box Office at 203.562.5666 Monday through Friday 12Noon–6:00PM.

More about the dances

In the world premiere work Berry Dreamin’, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II member Chalvar Monteiro centers the music, personality, and soul-stirring lyricism of Chuck Berry, the father of rock 'n' roll. This piece aims to reimagine the rich origin story for a star on the rise—the journey to adulthood and the moving target that is human connection against a day-dreamy, subconscious landscape that gives birth to our wildest dreams. The creation of Berry Dreamin' is commissioned by Dance St. Louis in celebration of Chuck Berry’s centennial. 

In Session by choreographer Rena Butler is a collective portrait of coming of age, where the tension between conformity and rebellion shapes the action of maturation. The work explores how individuals navigate the process of finding themselves while moving within—and against—the collective, challenging the notion that growth requires uniformity and asserting instead that no student needs to be the same. Through layered physicality and communal rhythm, In Session reveals the nuanced journey of self-discovery within a community.

Social media can contribute to anxiety, depression, comparison, pressure to be perfect, external validation, loneliness, bullying, and finding joy in the downfall of others. In Renée I. McDonald’s work Likes vs Life, three dancers wrestle with these powerful forces, the need to connect, and the desire to escape.

In addition to these three premieres, Ailey II’s touring repertory also includes an excerpt from Judith Jamison’s Divining, her first choreographic work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1984.

About Ailey II

For over 50 years, Ailey II has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people.

Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.