Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

About This Event

The company's annual Chicago stop — new works from contemporary choreographers alongside Ailey's own signature piece, 'Revelations,' which still closes nearly every program decades after its 1960 premiere. A genuine institution, not a touring novelty act, and tickets start well under $60.

Alvin Ailey founded the company in 1958 with a group of fellow Black modern dancers, intending what was originally supposed to be a single performance — it became something much bigger instead, and the company arrived right as the civil rights movement was building momentum nationally. 'Revelations,' choreographed in 1960, is the piece that cemented Ailey's reputation: three parts moving from the suffering of slavery through a ceremonial baptism to a full, joyful celebration set to gospel music, built specifically to uplift and preserve the African American experience through dance rather than treat it as a side note to modern dance history.

Worth knowing: no single showtime is listed since it runs across four days with a normal multi-performance schedule — check auditoriumtheatre.org for the exact date and time you want.