Graceful women dressed in white, bathe in a gently flowing blue-green stream. Holding umbrellas, they bend, take a sip and indulge in nature’s beauty. A captivated audience looked on wondering if it’s OK to breathe out of fear that they will disturb the beautiful tranquility.

This represented one of seven dance numbers the Ailey II dance troupe, sponsored by Pulse, performed for a sold-out audience in Goldstein Auditorium last night. Adults, college students and even elementary school students gathered to witness the magic that felt almost too intimate to even be defined as simply dance.

‘It is an incredible aesthetic experience that anyone can appreciate,’ said Deborah Monahan, a local self-proclaimed dance lover who has seen the group perform three times before. ‘What the dancers communicate is lovely and very challenging to look at.’

Ailey II originated in 1974 as a part of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. The group, which comprises 12 dancers, mixes contemporary styles with traditional African songs and dances.

One element that sets Ailey apart from other groups is the theme of unison. Even though there were 12 people dancing, it gave the illusion of one body flowing through the stage.

‘[The performers were] definitely focused on isolated movements,’ said Maggie Gleason, an undecided freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences, who is a dancer herself. ‘They seemed to move as one single dancer; the show was phenomenal.’

The audience packed the seats and overflowed into the aisles with people anticipating a great show from the renowned dance group. Once the dancers came out, a hush swept across the auditorium.

‘The group was so interesting to watch,’ said Maggie Knickerbocker, a high school student who attended the show with Rae’s Institute of Dance and Movement from Cicero, N.Y. ‘It’s very amazing, even as a dancer I looked them and thought, wow.’

The dancers moved so intricately it was hard for the audience to decide where to look, whether it was their hands, feet or mid-section. Not one of the dancers stood still during the numbers.

Also, as a special treat to the Syracuse audience, the group premiered its new number called, ‘Requiem’ – an interpretive dance representing Alvin Ailey.

‘I really liked ‘Requiem,” Gleason said. ‘Part of it was being one of the few lucky ones to see it for the first time and also the amazing story that the dancers were able to tell with their bodies. They did some different movements and powerhouse tricks. Their strength was really amazing.’

In addition to the new dance, the group also performed an original number, which was choreographed by Ailey himself in 1960. Toward the end of the show, the dancers took a traditional African-American church theme, using gospel music and 19th century fashion to illustrate the origins of their dance group.

It was clear throughout the show the audience was faced with a conflict of wanting to shout, cheer and commend the dancers for what they were doing, but at the same time nobody wanted to disturb the peace – until the finale when the audience erupted into a standing ovation.

‘They have fabulous athleticism and lyricism,’ Monahan said. ‘The music, the staging, I just think that they are a superb group.’

kaoutram@syr.edu

Published on February 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm