Ailey, Sweet Honey mix dance, music in Fox shows

Music and dance share center stage at this year’s performance of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which celebrates 50 years at the Fox Theater Feb. 19-22.

While most ballets feature recorded music or live renditions from the pit area, a new Ailey dance piece pairs an original musical score with onstage vocals by the group Sweet Honey in the Rock. Known for its eclectic repertoire of blues, spirituals, African chants, hip-hop and jazz improvisation, the Grammy-winning a capella ensemble dances, harmonizes and plays percussion fluidly among the professional dancers.

Two years in the making, the collaboration between the two African-American institutions (Sweet Honey celebrates 35 years of music this year) was a natural fit for both.

“Ailey uses amazing music, and we create and perform what we feel is wonderful, amazing music,” said Sweet Honey member Ysaye Barnwell.

“Go in Glory” choreographer Hope Boykin agreed, saying the individual sounds of group members blended well with the harmonies of the Ailey performers. “Once we were together, the family just performed,” she said.

Performances are preceded by a short film commemorating five decades of art. Besides Alvin Ailey classics, the show features the choreography of Tony Award winner George Faison sizzling among the hits of Georgia native Otis Redding.

DANCE

Tickets range from $20 to $50 and are available through Ticketmaster, 404-817-8700, www.ticketmaster.com, www.foxtheatre.org or www.alvinailey.org.

Special performances for student groups will be held Feb. 19-Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 404-881-2000.