Alvin Ailey at the Music Center, and PBS on DVD

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Alvin Ailey at the Music Center, and PBS on DVD
 

By Theda Kleinhans Reichman

Entertainment Editor

 

Alvin Ailey at the Music Center, and PBS on DVD
 

By Theda Kleinhans Reichman

Entertainment Editor

 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater originated from a now fabled March 1958 performance in New York that forever changed the perception of American dance. The company, founded by Alvin Ailey, recent posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is now under the artistic direction of Robert Battle. Mr. Battle brings the company to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center Wednesday April 15 to Sunday April 19 for six performances.
The company has performed for an estimated 23 million people in 71 countries on six continents, promoting the uniqueness of African American cultural experiences through modern dance. They first appeared at the Music Center in 1998 and over the years they have been one of the most popular dance companies to regularly perform in the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center series. This year they will perform three different programs: The Power of Ailey, The Soul of Ailey (which will feature "Odetta" a new ballet) and The Joy of Ailey.
The dynamic Los Angeles season will feature a wide variety of premiere highlights and a tribute to a civil rights icon, Odetta Holmes, an influential singer, song writer, actress and civil right activist whose repertoire included American folk music, blues, jazz and spirituals. When President Clinton honored the singer at the White House with the National Medal of Arts and Humanities he said, "Odetta reminds us all that songs have the power to change the heart and change the world." And Martin Luther King, Jr. dubbed the songstress "queen of American folk music."
On Wednesday, April 15 and Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. the company presents Power of Ailey which will feature Uprising, Episodes, Caught and Minus 16.
The Soul of Ailey features "Odetta" (choreographed by Matthew Rushing) on Thurs. April 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 2 p.m.
The Joy of Ailey will be danced on Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. with the following ballets: Lift, Polish Pieces, After the Rain and Revelations.

Tickets are available at the Music Center box office, 135 N Grand Ave. at Temple St., LA. Online at www.musiccenter.org/ailey or by calling 213-972-0711. Prices range from $35 to $142.
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PBS offers a wide range of subjects to enjoy from Masterpiece Mysteries like "Grantchester" and the Masterpiece Classic "Downton Abbey" series which just finished its fifth season, to history and nature programs like "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air" and "Penguin Post Office" which are available for purchase on Blu-ray and DVD.
Did you know that the tiny little hummingbird is a paradox of nature? Even though they are the tiniest of birds, they also are one of the toughest and most energetic creatures on the planet. In "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air," narrated by F. Murray Abraham, you will see these little feathered jewels in action. The high-speed, high definition footage will allow you to enter into the world of these little winged miracles. The DVD also provides behind the scenes footage with filmmaker Ann Prum and deleted scenes.

Calling all penguin lovers, come check out the unique British post office located in the Antarctic Peninsula. The scenery is truly cool and includes 3,000 gentoo penguins who come back to the area around the post office every summer after an intense spell of deep sea fishing. They travel over ice and snow for about two miles to get there and breed. Upon their return the penguins look for a partner, then build their nest, lay their eggs and settle down to protect their eggs from predators. During this four-month period cruise ships arrive, bringing countless tourists who eagerly watch and photograph the penguins and their chicks. While there the human visitors buy and send post cards to their friends and family from the "Penguin Post Office."
Information on these and other enriching PBS programs on DVD is available at PBS.org.