Ascension

In former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater member Troy O’ Neil Powell’s choreographic debut, Ascension, he creates a world ruled by a goddess and her muses whose collective aim is not to inspire acts of creation, but to set boundaries on them. The voice of Powell’s choreographic influence, the late Ulysses Dove, is evident in the driving, percussive score and exciting athleticism. In this abstract work, notable for its muscular wit, Powell also incorporates intricate lifts to suggest that adherence to limitations may provide a unique means of transcendence.