Skip to content
  • Our Story
  • Performances
  • Training
  • Community
  • Classes
  • Give
Six dancers on stage, lying on their sides with one arm extended upward and the other supporting them on the ground. The dancer in the center wears a red shirt, while the others wear shades of beige and blue. Bright stage lights form a row in the background.

Repertory

Uprising

COMPANIES

  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

CHOREOGRAPHER

  • Hofesh Shechter

COMPANY PREMIERE

New York City Center, 2014

WORLD PREMIERE

The Robin Howard Dance Theatre, London, 2006

RESTAGING

Bruno Guillore

MUSIC

Music by Hofesh Shechter. Additional music by Vex'd.

LIGHTING

Lee Curran

RUN TIME

26 Minutes

Created in 2006, Hofesh Shechter’s exhilarating Uprising features seven men who emerge from the shadows to bombard the stage with virile intensity, bonding and sparring in a highly charged work set to a propulsive, percussive score by the choreographer himself. Widely considered his breakthrough work, Uprising defined Shechter as a new, rebellious voice in dance with an untouchable ability to captivate audiences and set hearts pounding. Utilizing a movement style that is primal and imbued with high-tension energy, the Israeli-born Shechter has risen to become one of Europe’s most sought-after dance creators since his move to London in 2002. Uprising is the first work by Shechter to enter the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater repertory.

Seven dancers on stage, forming a pyramid. The dancer at the top, wearing a red shirt, reaches upward with a red object in hand. Other dancers support him, with one kneeling and another lying on the ground. Bright stage lights form a row in the background.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Hofesh Shechter's Uprising Photo by Paul Kolnik

Six dancers on stage, lying on their sides with one arm extended upward and the other supporting them on the ground. The dancer in the center wears a red shirt, while the others wear shades of beige and blue. Bright stage lights form a row in the background.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Hofesh Shechter's Uprising Photo by Paul Kolnik

Six dancers on stage, paired off and pressing their foreheads together while holding each other's heads. The dancer in the middle wears a red shirt, while the others wear shades of beige and blue. The background is dark.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Hofesh Shechter's Uprising Photo by Paul Kolnik

Five dancers on stage, each balancing on one leg with the other leg bent, hands positioned in front of their chests. The dancer in the center wears a red shirt, while the others wear shades of beige and blue. The background is dark.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Hofesh Shechter's Uprising Photo by Paul Kolnik

Funders

Uprising was originally commissioned by John Ashford on behalf of the Robin Howard Foundation with support from Arts Council England and Jerwood Changing Stages Choreolab at DanceXchange, Birmingham, U.K. Generous support was provided by Michele & Timothy Barakett, Natasha Leibel Levine, M.D. & Harlan B. Levine, M.D., and The Fred Eychaner New Works Endowment Fund. 

A group of dancers in flesh tone dresses look up and reach their hands to the sky

Support Ailey

Every donation to AILEY, a non-profit organization, furthers the pioneering vision of our founder, Alvin Ailey, to deliver dance back to the people.
Donate
VisitBlogShopRentalsCareersPressFAQsContact

Follow us

© 2025 Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.
Consumer InformationPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsSite Credits

We use cookies to improve your experience and to help us understand how you use our site. By accessing or clicking any link on our Web site, you give consent for us to set these cookies.

Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information.