SOMMETA Review | Experiencing “Edges of Ailey”
It is a Friday night at the Whitney Museum of American Art. This is the one night of the week that they are open the latest and also have free entry for all visitors. This is the only night this week I was able to make it, so while I would usually prefer to explore the galleries of the museum at a calmer time, I set out to see this exhibition when it will undoubtedly be packed.
Nearing the museum, you can see waves of people coming and going. After waiting in a fast-moving line to get in, the lobby is filled with people wearing a range of different styles for their evening attire. Where we usually buy tickets is now an area with scattered tables and spaces for people to mingle, with a DJ playing pop/R&B music by the windows. Once I obtain my ticket online, I wait in an ever-growing group of people to take the elevator. Finally, the large elevator doors open, and after people pour out of it, we all pile in, making the most of the enormous elevator. It goes straight to the fifth floor. The doors open, we've arrived at the Edges of Ailey.
The gallery is filled with people, there's music playing, and a video installation of Ailey's performances is being projected along the top of the back wall. The walls have been painted a deep red color, and the lights are a dim yellow, creating an intimate vibe despite the mass of people (groups, pairs, individuals) who are all about the gallery to see the exhibition. I note the layout and plan the best way to go around the exhibition to see everything on view. It takes well over an hour for me to go through the entirety of the show, which is an immersive journey into the layers of Ailey's work, from influences of his formative years to those he went on to influence with his work, and everything in between. The exhibition, featuring close peers, muses, mentors, and collaborators, does not shy away from offering an insight into the life of Alvin Ailey, whose legacy in the world of dance, performance, and American culture is celebrated.
Alvin Ailey is an American visionary artist and choreographer who was born in Rogers, Texas, in 1931, passing in New York, New York, in 1989 at the age of 58. In 1958, Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. It is now the largest modern dance company in the United States.
Edges of Ailey will be on view at the Whitney through February 9th. There will also be the rare opportunity to experience intimate live performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, along with workshops, classes, and student showcases, as part of a monthly residency program. So check out their schedule to reserve tickets to their program in advance!