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A black and white photo of four dancers. They and looking at the camera, turned to the side, with their legs kicked up.

Repertory

Tilt (Six for the Pinball)

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

RUN TIME

34 Minutes

AILEY II PREMIERE

Theater of the Riverside Church, 1987 

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER PREMIERE

New York City Center, 1979 

WORLD PREMIERE

1975

MUSIC

Various

DÉCOR & COSTUMES

George Faison 

LIGHTING

Jeffrey Schisser, Nicola Cernovitch 

George Faison first set this ballet for three women on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It emulated the glitzy frenetic energy of a pinball machine. Later, he re-imagined it as a group work for the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (now Ailey II). Set to popular disco music of the day, including “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5 and “One for All or All for One” by Ashford & Simpson, Tilt blended the disco moves of Soul Train with modern dance to create a crowd-pleasing ballet. 

A black and white photo of four dancers. Three are standing on stools and one is dancing on the floor.

Ailey II in George Faison's Tilt Photo by Jack L. Vartoogian

Black and white photo of three dancers. The two in the front have their legs kicked high in the air.

Maxine Sherman, Shirley Black-Brown, and Marilyn Banks in George Faison's Tilt Photo by Jack L. Vartoogian

Black and White photo of 3 dancers.

Maxine Sherman, Shirley Black-Brown, and Marilyn Banks in George Faison's Tilt Photo by Jack L. Vartoogian

Hero Credit: Photo by Jack L. Vartoogian