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A black and white photograph of a dance performance featuring six dancers dressed in elaborate costumes with ruffled collars and cuffs. One dancer is performing a split on the floor, arms extended. Another dancer is captured mid-air with one leg raised. The other dancers are in various dynamic poses in the background.

Repertory

Fontessa and Friends

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

New York City Center, 1981

MUSIC

John Lewis, James P. Johnson, Scott Joplin, Aram Kachaturian, Dorothy Fields, Cy Coleman, Giuseppe Verdi

DÉCOR

Edward Burbridge

COSTUMES

Louis Johnson

LIGHTING

Chenault Spence

RUN TIME

25 Minutes

Louis Johnson’s Fontessa and Friends is an entertaining, theatrical ballet filled with charming and witty characters. Johnson was inspired by “Fontessa,'' a song written by John Lewis for his Modern Jazz Quartet. The jazzy, upbeat score sets the mood for this series of skits in revue format about Fontessa and her circle of capering friends.

“I was attracted to Fontessa after hearing her song by The Modern Jazz Quartet. The zany humor of her character and her lovely theme totally inspired me to create Fontessa and Friends.” – Louis Johnson 

A black and white photo of a male dancer in mid-jump. He is wearing a white cap, a ruffled collar, wrist cuffs, ankle cuffs, and briefs. The background is light.

Aubrey Lynch Jr. in Louis Johnson Fontessa and Friends Photo by Jack Mitchell. (©) Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution

A black and white photo of dancer Desmond Richardson in mid-air. He is wearing a costume that includes a hat, gloves, a striped vest, and shorts. One arm is bent above his head, and the other is extended downward, with one leg bent and the other extended back. The background is plain and light-colored. The photo is labeled REPERTORY Desmond Richardson in Fontessa and Friends.

Desmond Richardson in Fontessa and Friends Jack Mitchell

A black and white photo of dancers Donna Wood and Gary DeLoatch in mid-performance. Donna Wood is in the foreground, wearing a revealing costume with a headpiece, arms extended gracefully to the sides. Gary DeLoatch is in the background, performing a high leap with legs extended and wearing a hat and dark costume. The background is dark, highlighting the dancers.

Donna Wood and Gary DeLoatch in Luis Johnson's Fontessa and Friends Photo by William Hilton

Black and white photo of Ralph Glenmore performing in Fontessa and Friends. Ralph is captured mid-jump with one arm raised and the other extended to the side, wearing a striped costume and a hat, and smiling.

Ralph Glenmore in Louis Johnson's Fontessa and Friends Photo by Kenn Duncan

A black and white photo of two dancers. A shirtless male dancer in a decorated loincloth stands in a dynamic pose with arms extended. A female dancer in a long, dark dress stands behind him, embracing him with her arms and looking in the same direction. The background is light.

April Berry, Keith McDaniel in Louis Johnson's Fontessa and Friends Photo by Kenn Duncan