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6 Ailey dancers in bright costumes, 3 jumping with the other 3 supporting them

Repertory

Hymn

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

New York City Center, 1993

RESTAGING

Matthew Rushing and Clifton Brown

MUSIC

Robert Ruggieri

ORIGNAL COSTUMES

Toyce Anderson

COSTUMES

Redesigned by Jon Taylor

LIGHTING

Timothy Hunter

LIBRETTO AND TEXT

Anna Deavere Smith

SET

Timothy Hunter, Daniel Bonitsky, and Donald J. Oberpriller

RUN TIME

  • 37 minutes

Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison’s stunning, Emmy Award-winning 1993 tribute to Alvin Ailey uses explosive, full company dances and quiet solos to illuminate Mr. Ailey’s humanity and the dancers’ unique qualities. Personal recollections from Ms. Jamison and dancers arranged by the multi-talented actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith and a driving percussive score by Robert Ruggieri contribute to this landmark work that’s as intimately moving as it is awe-inspiring. 

Two groups of dancers in low lighting

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison's Hymn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, June 2026. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Dancers in low red lighting

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison's Hymn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, June 2026. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Dancers in low lighting wearing bright colors.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison's Hymn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, June 2026. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Dancers in low lighting looking to the right

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison's Hymn at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, June 2026. Photo by Julieta Cervantes

Every Dancer with kneeling with their head down and their arms exentended outwards and down

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Judith Jamison's Hymn Photo by Nan Melville

See It Live

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Funders

The original creation of Hymn was made possible, in part, with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and grants from The Rockefeller Foundation, and Diego Della Valle.

Leadership support for Hymn was provided by The Pamela D. Zilly and John H. Schaefer New Works Endowment Fund.

Generous support for this new production of Hymn is provided by Kathleen & Ernest Abrahamson, Judith McDonough Kaminski & Joseph Kaminski, Alma Scott, Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach, and The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey—Sara and Bill Morgan New Works Endowment Fund.

Hero Credit: Photo by Andrew Eccles