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A dancer in an orange dress sits on a chair under a spotlight on a dark stage. She leans back with both legs extended horizontally in front of her.

Repertory

Essence

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

2010

MUSIC

John Cage

COSTUMES

Christopher Huggins and Elena Comendador

LIGHTING

Christopher Huggins

Former Ailey dancer Christopher Huggins is a choreographer greatly admired for his distinctively theatrical works. Essence is a tour-de-force for a female soloist who explores a spectrum of emotions in this deeply moving portrait of self-discovery. 

A dancer in an orange dress is captured mid-leap over a wooden chair on stage. The background is dark, and a spotlight illuminates the dancer and the chair, emphasizing the grace and height of the jump.

Ailey II in Christopher L. Huggins' Essence Photo by Eduardo Patino, NYC

A dancer in an orange dress sits on a chair under a spotlight on a dark stage. She leans back with both legs lifted and bent at the knees, her arms resting on the chair.

Ailey II in Christopher L. Huggins' Essence Photo by Eduardo Patino, NYC

A dancer in an orange dress performs under a spotlight on a dark stage. She sits on a chair, leaning back with one arm raised and pointing upwards.

Ailey II in Christopher L. Huggins' Essence
  Photo by Eduardo Patino, NYC