Skip to content
two dancers in front of black background. One dancer with leg extended to the back.

Repertory

Blink of an Eye

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

COMPANY PREMIERE

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: New York City Center, 2025

STAGING

Valentina Scaglia

MUSIC

Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Itzhak Perlman

ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN

Nicole Pearce

COSTUMES

Medhi Walerski

COSTUMES REDESIGN

Jon Taylor

RUN TIME

  • 15 minutes

In an intriguing piece that probes the relationship between dance and music, Medhi Walerski lays bare the strength and vulnerability inherent in the creative process. The timeless beauty of J.S. Bach’s violin sonatas and partita anchors the athletic movement that is both precise and expansive.

A moment—brief yet infinite. Blink of an Eye explores the fragile boundary between presence and absence, change and stillness. Echoing Bach’s ‘Partitas for Solo Violin’, the work traces a dialogue between rigor and freedom, structure and emotion, the earthly and the divine. Through movement that flows like sound, it reflects on how everything can shift, disappear, or begin again in the blink of an eye. 
 

Female dancer wearing black in front of a black background with arms and leg extended

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Dandara Veiga in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Christopher Duggan

Female dancer leaning on male dancer with leg extended

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Dandara Veiga and Donnie Duncan Jr. in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Christopher Duggan

Male dancer with leg extended

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Donnie Duncan Jr. in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Christopher Duggan

Male dancer wearing black pants lunging to his knees

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Jesse Obremski in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Christopher Duggan

Female dancer wearing black standing on one leg

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Caroline T. Dartey in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Christopher Duggan

two dancers in front of black background. One dancer with leg extended to the back.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Dandara Veiga and Donnie Duncan Jr. in Medhi Walerski's Blink of an Eye Photo by Paul Kolnik

See It Live

MUSIC CREDITS

“Partita for Solo Violin N2 in D Minor BWV 1004: I. Allemande”, “Partita for Solo Violin N1 in G Minor BWV 1001: I. Adagio”, and “Partita for Solo Violin N1 in G Minor BWV 1001: IV. Presto”

FUNDERS

The company premiere of Blink of an Eye is supported by commissioning funds from New York City Center.

Blink of an Eye was also made possible with support by Leanne Lachman.

Hero Credit: Photo by Paul Kolnik