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6 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017 BIG ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT SCENE | WEST HAWAII TODAY BY KAREN ROSE Ailey II’s Christopher R. Wilson and Jacoby Pruit perform in Jae Man Joo’s “Circular.” Ailey II comes to Kahilu Theatre on Saturday. KYLE FROMAN/SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY Albert Einstein said dancers are the athletes of God. After watching the dancers of Ailey II perform, audience members will have no doubt this is true. Known globally for fusing together the strong performances of young dancers, with the creativity and spirited devotion of today’s up and coming choreographers, Ailey II brings its artistic vision to Kahilu Theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday. “Ailey II is essentially the junior company Alvin Ailey Dance Company and is composed of younger dancers,” said second year dancer Gabriel Hyman. “There are six men and six women. The goal of the company is to prepare younger dancers for a professional career in another company after Ailey II.” Troy Powell, Ailey II artistic director, is noted as bringing fresh ideas and new layers to the company. “There’s nothing like an evening spent with Ailey II, the younger version of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,” The New York Times said. Ailey II is called “second to none” by Dance Magazine. “Ailey II performs as much as the first company, but we reach different audiences and different theaters that the first company may not reach,” said Hyman. “We have the same rigorous schedule and perform in the same countries, we’re just a smaller and younger company.” Ailey II was founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. The company’s mission is to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. From 1974 to 2012, Alvin Ailey was under the direction of Sylvia Waters and became one of the most well-known modern dance companies in the world. The company is known for its extensive community outreach programs and rigorous touring schedule. The mother dance company of Ailey II is Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which first performed in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. It was led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African- American modern dancers. SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY Powell Ailey II comes to Kahilu Theatre SEE AILEY PAGE 9


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