SZA, Tonya Lee & Spike Lee Named Honorary Chairs for Alvin Ailey Season-Opening Gala
Dance company will world premiere new "Power of Love" collaboration inspired by music legend Luther Vandross.
Grammy-winning artist SZA, filmmaker Tonya Lee and renowned director Spike Lee have been honored as honorary chairs for the opening night gala of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 2026-27 season. The gala, taking place on December 2nd at New York City Center, will run through January 3rd, 2027.
The highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of "Power of Love," a new dance and music tribute to the late Luther Vandross. Choreographed by Jamar Roberts, the tribute was created in collaboration with Primary Wave Music and The Luther Vandross Estate.
Alicia Graf Mack, the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey, expressed her excitement about the collaboration, stating that Vandross's music has been cherished since his first solo album 45 years ago. SZA, whose mother has been a regular at Alvin Ailey for Mother's Day, shared her personal connection to the organization and her honor to be involved in this significant tribute.
The world premiere of "Power of Love" will occur after Vandross's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 14th in Los Angeles. The show will also feature other beloved Vandross hits such as "Never Too Much," "Here and Now," "Dance With My Father," and "A House Is Not a Home."
The eight-time Grammy winner's longtime collaborators, Marcus Miller and Ron Gilyard, joined forces with writer/director Reginald Hudlin to develop the dance and music tribute. They carefully selected songs from Vandross's career that would translate well to dance and added small touches to create musical surprises.
The Opening Night Gala will also include an excerpt of "Hymn," Judith Jamison's Emmy Award-winning tribute to Alvin Ailey, which is returning to the repertory after nearly 15 years. This ceremony marks the tribute's renewed presence on stage.
Honorary committee members for the gala include Cynthia Erivo, LL Cool J, Samara Joy, Gayle King, and Audra McDonald, among others. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, supporting new works and student scholarships. For more information about gala tickets, visit the provided link.
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