"Loving what you do and yourself is part of how one becomes a world-class dancer." Demetia Hopkins-Greene is on her way to Atlanta with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and a wonderful personal story. On Friday February 5th, I interviewed her about her path from a child who loved dance in the southern city of Orange, Virginia, to a college student in a big-city, and joining the historic dance company in New York.
For the second time on-stage, Hopkins-Greene will perform the woman’s story “Cry”, a 16-minute solo Saturday, February 13th in Atlanta. With its flamenco styled white dress, a taut expressive dancer’s back, and supple undulations emanating from the corp, it’s a hard but soulful piece.
Hopkins-Greene began dancing at 4 years old with her uncle as a teacher. In Orange, there was much family support and time to linger in the moment. Her mother definitely wanted her daughter to attend college and found that Fordham University had a strong dance program. Its connection to Alvin Ailey allowed Hopkins-Greene to continue training and growing in a competitive yet supportive atmosphere.
“Cry” is set to the jazz of Alice Coltrane, the soulful music of Laura Nyro, and gospel of Chuck Griffin to create an American masterpiece. It’s a story of a woman rising from bondage into grace. For Hopkins-Greene it’s a powerful vehicle for reacting to what is happening in today’s world - hope, enlightenment, and forward progress.
The ballet is sometimes performed by three female leads, but this Saturday Hopkins-Greene will alone tackle Mr. Ailey’s choreography which was first staged 45 years ago for Judith Jameson. Like most Ailey pieces, Hopkins-Greene finds so much character work, and room for a dancer to express her own stories and commentary on modern life.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Demetia Hopkins-Greene.
Copyright Richard Calmes 2014
Atlanta audiences relish and cheer the historic Ailey company and its dancers each year. Once again we welcome its 32 members as well as a special guest artist, Matthew Rushing next Wednesday to Sunday.
Copyright Richard Calmes 2014
Atlanta audiences relish and cheer the historic Ailey company and its dancers each year. Once again we welcome its 32 members as well as a special guest artist, Matthew Rushing next Wednesday to Sunday.
There is a family matinee, developed for an audience of kids to grandparents. “Seeing bodies on stage moving with so much energy will energize everyone.” Hopkins-Greene advises that “as long as your kids are able to be engaged for that long, it’s never too soon to come and appreciate the full show.”
Hopkins-Greene last piece of advice for young dancers: Always have fun, always be open to learning. Learn how to treat your body and health. If you are doing it and your miserable then you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons.” Macaroni Kid Decatur wishes Hopkins-Greene many more years of joy, performing, and learning.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Ailey’s 2015 Atlanta Engagement Performance dates and times:
Ailey’s 2015 Atlanta Engagement Performance dates and times:
Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m. Student Performance; Thursday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. ; Sunday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets for Ailey’s 2016 Atlanta engagement from February 11 to 15 are on sale starting at $25 at The Fox Theatre box office, 660 Peachtree Street NE, www.alvinailey.org, www.foxatltix.com or by calling 855-285-8499. Groups of 10 or more can save by calling 404-881-2000.
- Student tickets are available for Thursday, February 11 at 8 p.m. for $10 with valid student ID. Tickets must be purchased at the Fox Theatre box office prior to 5:30 p.m. on February 12 (Limit two per ID and subject to availability).
- The Ailey Fan program tickets for Wednesday, February 10 at 8 p.m. are all $25.
- Tickets for the one-hour Student Performance on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. are available by calling group sales at (404) 881-2000.
- The Saturday Family Matinee tickets are buy one, get one 50 percent off with a free post-performance Q&A with the dancers.
ABOUT ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now‐fabled March 1958 performance in New York that forever changed the perception of American dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey, a recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor, and guided by Judith Jamison beginning in 1989, the Company is now led by Robert Battle, whom Judith Jamison chose to succeed her on July 1, 2011. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African‐American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the Principal Dance Company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year‐end tradition, the Ailey company performs annually at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami‐Dade County in Miami, The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate). The Company also appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the United States and the world during extensive annual tours. The Ailey organization also includes Ailey II (1974), a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School (1969), one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world, Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities and lives of people of all ages, and The Ailey Extension (2005), a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of Ailey’s permanent home—the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world —named The Joan Weill Center for Dance, at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org.
