Mingus

Mingus (also known as Solo for Mingus) was a solo choreographed for Peter Woodin by Alvin Ailey in 1979. It is an abstract work, lyrical in quality and meant as a tribute to the jazz pioneer Charles Mingus. Mr. Ailey recreated this version of the solo, which had been a part of a longer ballet he choreographed for the Joffrey Ballet called Mingus Dances. Woodlin described performing the ballet as very challenging. He never considered himself a lyrical dancer and was honored to be able to perform it before leaving the company. The New York Times wrote, “Much of the choreography has the typical Ailey signature of keeping the dancer low to the floor, as in two great Ailey male solos, Reflections In D and ‘I Want to be Ready.’ In Mr. Woodlin's fine performance, Solo for Mingus becomes a study in tranquility.”