Include dance in your holiday plans. The wildly inquisitive choreographer Reggie Wilson and his Fist and Heel Performance Group return to BAM (Dec. 14-17) with the premiere of “CITIZEN,” “…inspired by the histories of iconic African-Americans––including Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin and W.E.B DuBois––who faced prevalent contradictions and adversity in relation to their civic duties and artistic aspirations…” Built on a “…provocative dialogue [that] emerges through a series of five intricately woven solos, layered with haunting video footage, ‘CITIZEN’ is sure to include Wilson’s signature movement style, which he describes as ‘post-African/Neo-HooDoo Modern dances,’ [plus] elements of blues, folk and African Diaspora cultures, exposes isolation and the ways in which we make space for our communities and our countries without sacrificing ourselves and the legacies of our cultural identities,” according to the release. For more information, visit www.bam.org.
STILL RUNNING
Nov. 30-Dec. 31—The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns for their annual New York City Center five-week season. Artistic Director Robert Battle and 32 dancers will offer more than two dozen works, including world premieres by Kyle Abraham (“Untitled America”) and Ailey dancer Hope Boykin (“r-Evolution,” “Dream”), a company premiere by Johan Inger (“Walking Mad,” 2001), plus new productions by Billy Wilson (“The Winter in Lisbon,”1992) and Ailey’s “Masekela Langage” (1969). The opening night gala benefit performance will feature Battle’s “Ella,” a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald preceding the 100th anniversary of her birth, a variety of one-night-only performances and “Revelations,” with live musicians and singers. Other season highlights include the Family Matinee Series, which runs every Saturday afternoon, plus the Christmas Eve, Christmas night and New Year’s Eve performances. For more information, visit www.nycitycenter.org.
ALSO THIS MONTH
Dec. 1-17—The specially curated, split-bill, DoublePlus series returns at Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center. Over three weekends, performances are as follows: Dylan Crossman Dans(c)e + Caleb Teicher & Company, curated by David Parker (Dec. 1-3); Oren Barnoy + Naomi Elena Ramirez, curated by luciana achugar (Dec. 8-10); and Leslie Cuyjet + Lela Aisha Jones | FlyGround, curated by Cynthia Oliver (Dec. 15-17). For more information, visit www.gibneydance.org.
Dec. 3 and 17—New Jersey Performing Arts Center brings back “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” a contemporary version of the timeless holiday classic with performances by MC Kurtis Blow. The two performances are Washington Heights (Dec. 3) and NJPAC (Dec. 17). For more information, visit www.njpac.org.
Dec. 7 and 8—In the premiere of “The Temple, Burn It Down,” featured this season in Jamal Jackson Dance Company, are sculptures, body paint costumes and live music at The Dumbo Loft in Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.jamaljacksondancecompany.org.
Dec. 10—Batoto Yetu (Swahili for “Our Children”) company celebrates the holiday at Aaron Davis Hall, Marian Anderson Theater with “… African dance, music and folklore … for all ages,” notes the release. For more information, visit www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org.
Dec. 12—The 59th annual Dance Magazine Awards, to be held at New York Live Arts, will honor former dancer and current dance educator Carolyn Adams, dance historian and scholar Lynn Garafola, choreographer Lar Lubovitch and New York City Ballet principal Tiler Peck. For more information, visit www.dancemagazine.com.
Dec. 17—Forces of Nature Dance Company, under artistic director and choreographer, Abdel R. Salaam, brings their annual Kwanzaa celebration to NJPAC, with special guests Les Nubians as part of NJPAC’s Kwanzaa festivities. For more information, visit www.njpac.org.
Dec. 17 and 18—Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, joined by visiting Cuban artists, comes to the Aaron Davis Hall, Marian Anderson Theater with “Siete Mares,” “… Inspired by the mythology from Yoruba stories…” choreographed and directed by Danys “La Mora” Perez, according to the release. For more information, visit www.citycollegecenterforthearts.org