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A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features a group of dancers reaching towards vertical bars, with a central male dancer seated on a stool, looking up with an expression of hope or determination. The dancers surrounding him are in long skirts and head wraps, extending their arms upwards, creating a visually striking and powerful composition. The stage lighting enhances the dramatic effect, highlighting the emotional

Repertory

Survivors

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

WORLD PREMIERE

Lyric Theater, Kansas City, MO, 1986

CO-CHOREOGRAPHER

Mary Barnett

MUSIC

Max Roach and Peter Phillips

ORIGINAL DÉCOR

Douglas Grekin

COSTUMES

Toni-Leslie James

LIGHTING

Tim Hunter

RESTAGED BY

Masazumi Chaya

RUN TIME

18 Minutes

Alvin Ailey’s impassioned tribute to the profound courage and terrible anguish of Nelson and Winnie Mandela is, more broadly, a portrait of people transformed by injustice. Max Roach’s richly varied drumming and Abbey Lincoln’s vocals set the emotional tone for this powerful work that lifts up those who resist oppression in any form.  

Learn more about the creation of Survivors on the Ailey Blog, and check out The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s review, which calls Survivors “both personal and a universal statement about injustice. Ailey sought to tell a story about the activist couple but not in a purely literal, narrative sense.” 

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image showcases a group of dancers in a dynamic and emotive formation. The central dancer, wearing a red patterned top and skirt, is elevated by other dancers, arms extended wide, evoking a sense of reaching or yearning. Surrounding her, dancers in long skirts and head wraps extend their arms upwards, creating a visually striking and powerful composition against a backdrop of vertical bar

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features a group of dancers in an intense and expressive formation. The central figure, dressed in a patterned top and a flowing red skirt, is surrounded by dancers in coordinated poses, their arms outstretched and connected. Behind them, a male dancer reaches upward, emphasizing the emotional depth and dramatic tension of the scene. The stage is set against a backdrop of vertical b

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features dancers Ashley Kaylynn Green and Vernard Gilmore in an evocative pose against a backdrop of vertical bars. Ashley Kaylynn Green, wearing a patterned top and a long, flowing red skirt, extends her leg gracefully while holding onto Vernard Gilmore's hand. Gilmore, dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, supports Green, creating a powerful and intimate moment. The lighting an

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Ashley Kaylynn Green and Vernard Gilmore in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features a powerful and emotive scene where a group of dancers reaches towards a man standing behind vertical bars. The dancers, dressed in period costumes, are positioned around the bars, creating a striking visual composition. The man behind the bars looks upwards, symbolizing a sense of hope or yearning. The warm, dramatic lighting enhances the emotional intensity of the performa

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features a group of dancers in a dramatic and expressive formation. The dancers, clad in costumes of earthy tones and flowing fabrics, are positioned against a backdrop of vertical bars, with one dancer seated behind the bars, adding depth to the composition. The lighting casts a warm, intense glow on the dancers, highlighting their dynamic poses and the emotional intensity of the p

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

A color photo of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performing Alvin Ailey's Survivors, captured by Paul Kolnik. The image features a group of dancers in an expressive formation, with their arms and bodies reaching out and intertwining. The backdrop consists of vertical bars, and the dancers wear costumes in earthy tones of browns and grays. One dancer is prominently positioned behind the bars, reaching outward, while the others are around him, creating a dynamic and emotional scene. The lighting highli

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Survivors Photo by Paul Kolnik

Music Credits

“Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace” courtesy of Kobalt Music Publishing. Survivors used with permission from Peter Phillips. Major support of this new production of Survivors was made possible by Judith McDonough Kaminski and Joseph Kaminski, and Daria L. & Eric J. Wallach. Mr. Ailey expressed his gratitude to Ms. James, Mr. Grekin, and Mr. Hunter for the generous contributions of their talents and artistry to this work.