“Roy’s Joys,” set to recordings by Roy Eldridge, is abundant with layers of vernacular dance, ballet and modern — everything to grow a company of dancers, and grow they did under Battle.
That mix of new and the unexpected old was also important in the bigger picture of dance — “Roy’s Joys” (1997) was granted a second, much-needed life at Ailey.
Alvin Ailey studied with Martha Graham; Taylor was in her company.
I’ll never forget the invigorating sight of Ailey dancers performing Taylor’s “Arden Court,” a bold, crisp example of showing them, as he said, in new ways.
But Battle branched out, and as he dusted off the Ailey company, he led it into the 21st century with a public persona that was as fresh as his artistic agenda.
Persons:
Lazarus, ”, Rennie Harris, Twyla Tharp, Roy Eldridge, Ailey, Carolyn Adams, Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Taylor, I’ll, Taylor’s “
Organizations:
Ailey, Center
Locations:
Taylor’s “ Arden