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A black and white photo of dancer Dudley Williams in mid-performance. He is wearing a large, herringbone-patterned coat, a light shirt, dark pants, and a hat. He is captured in a dynamic pose, with the coat flaring open and a thoughtful gaze to the side.

Repertory

Hobo Sapiens

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

New York City Center, 1976

MUSIC

Stevie Wonder, Billie Preston

DÉCOR

Irving Milton Duke

COSTUMES

George Faison

LIGHTING

Shirley Prendergast

Created as a solo for dancer Dudley Williams, Hobo Sapiens takes place in a red-brick alley and traces a man’s life from youth to middle age. Stevie Wonder’s and Billy Preston’s rock 'n' roll and R&B music help set the city street scene.

A black and white photo of dancer Dudley Williams in mid-performance. He is wearing a large, herringbone-patterned coat, a light shirt, dark pants, and a hat. He is captured in a dynamic pose, with the coat flaring open and a thoughtful gaze to the side.

Dudley Williams in George Faison's Hobo Sapiens Photo by Jack Mitchell. (©) Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution

A black and white photo of dancer Dudley Williams in mid-performance. He is wearing a large, herringbone-patterned coat and a hat. His hands are clutching the collar of the coat, and he has a thoughtful, upward gaze. The background is plain and light-colored.

Dudley Williams in Hobo Sapiens Jack Mitchell