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A group of dancers in gray stand close together in various poses.

Repertory

Rusty

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

Ailey Citigroup Theater, 2012

MUSIC

Mikael Karlsson

COSTUMES

Elena Comendador

LIGHTING

Al Crawford

Paris-born choreographer Benoit-Swan Pouffer, a former member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the former artistic director of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, brings a European sensibility to Ailey II’s repertory with this work.

Set to the pulsating tones of composer Mikael Karlsson’s score, Rusty features a cast of nine dancers, ethereal movement, and lush partnering. This contemporary piece explores the experiences of young artists—the challenges they face and the relationships they build as performers. 

Five dancers in grey costumes perform a complex routine. One dancer stands on another's shoulders, another holds a high leg extension, and the rest are in various dynamic poses, creating a visually engaging tableau on stage with a plain background.

Ailey II in Benoit-Swan Pouffer's Rusty Photo by Eduardo Patino

Silhouetted dancers in a dark scene create the illusion of multiple arms extending in various directions, forming a visually striking and intricate pattern against a dimly lit background.

Ailey II in Benoit-Swan Pouffer's Rusty Photo by Eduardo Patino

ChatGPT Two dancers in grey costumes perform a modern dance routine. The female dancer leans forward with her arm raised, holding the hand of the male dancer who stands behind her. They are barefoot on a stage with a plain background.

Ailey II in Benoit-Swan Pouffer's Rusty Photo by Eduardo Patino