AILEY II: The Next Generation of Dance Ignites the Adrienne Arsht Stage in the New Year
- wgclients01
- Nov 18
- 4 min read
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is proud to welcome back AILEY II (@aileyii), the celebrated second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, for a powerful one-night-only performance on January 9, 2026 at 8 p.m. in the Knight Concert Hall. The performance features repertory that spans emotional storytelling and thrilling athleticism and a spotlight on South Florida native Jordyn White, who joined the company in 2024.
Tickets are $40.95 - $93.60 and available now at arshtcenter.org or at the Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722.
For more than five decades, Ailey II has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with the passion and artistry of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as a bridge between The Ailey School and the professional dance world, the company embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to nurture the next generation of talented artists and reach audiences around the world by making dance accessible to all. Under Artistic Director Francesca Harper’s direction, Ailey II is forging a new path for modern dance—one that’s inclusive, experimental, and transformative.
Ailey II Artistic Director Francesca Harper. Photo by Nir Arieli
“This season is a celebration of artistic voices that push boundaries and inspire transformation while honoring Alvin Ailey’s timeless vision,” said Francesca Harper. “The four works I've commissioned speak to identity, connection, and the bold possibilities of movement today. I am excited for audiences to witness these 12 exceptional dancers bring their creative passion and virtuosity to the stage.”
As part of the Adrienne Arsht Center’s 2025-2026 Dance at Arsht Series, the Ailey II program will include a curated selection of new and repertory works. The works listed below reflect Ailey II’s national touring repertory. The Miami program at the Arsht will feature a select portion of these pieces, with final programming to be announced soon.
In Session by choreographer Rena Butler is a collective portrait of coming of age, where the tension between conformity and rebellion shapes the action of maturation. The work explores how individuals navigate the process of finding themselves while moving within—and against—the collective, challenging the notion that growth requires uniformity and asserting instead that no student needs to be the same. Through layered physicality and communal rhythm, In Session reveals the nuanced journey of self-discovery within a community.
Social media can contribute to anxiety, depression, comparison, pressure to be perfect, external validation, loneliness, bullying, and finding joy in the downfall of others. In Renée I. McDonald’s work Likes vs Life, three dancers wrestle with these powerful forces, the need to connect, and the desire to escape.
In the world premiere work Berry Dreamin’, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II member Chalvar Monteiro centers the music, personality, and soul-stirring lyricism of Chuck Berry, the father of rock 'n' roll. This piece aims to reimagine the rich origin story for a star on the rise—the journey to adulthood and the moving target that is human connection against a day-dreamy, subconscious landscape that gives birth to our wildest dreams. The creation of Berry Dreamin' is commissioned by Dance St. Louis in celebration of Chuck Berry’s centennial.
Choreographer My’Kal Stromile’s Third Person Point of View begins in medias res—Latin for “in the midst of things.” We enter a non-traditional, three-person relationship in its fully functioning form: fluid, intricate, and quietly intimate. We then rewind to the beginning of the relationship, and what the audience sees is two people deeply attuned, and a third seeking entry, admiration, and a place to belong. As the title suggests, the piece invites the audience to witness from the outside, observing a relationship as it unfolds without ever being directly addressed.
In addition to these four world premieres, Ailey II’s touring repertory also includes Baye & Asa’s John 4:20, an expanded duet the choreographers originally created in 2018; Francesca Harper’s Luminous, paying homage to five decades of Ailey II; a solo excerpted from Judith Jamison’s Divining, her first choreographic work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1984; Houston Thomas’ Down the Rabbit Hole, a work inspired by The Matrix film series exploring how technology weaves into the fabric of daily life; and enduring classics by Alvin Ailey, such as his signature must-see American masterpiece, Revelations.
Ailey II welcomes four new dancers— Kamani Abu, Jada Ammons, Christian Butts, and Adanna Smalls— who join the eight returning members: Carley Cruzat Brooks, Meredith Brown, Jennifer M. Gerken, Xavier Logan, Xhosa Scott, Darion Tuner, Eric J. Vidaña, and Jordyn White.
*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Ticket prices include fees. Visit ArshtCenter.org for up-to-date information.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, and the state of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.