This opportunity was definitely earned through hard work, struggle, and dedication to the organization. In the middle of their 60th Anniversary season, Riccardo was offered a company dancer position with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
At the young age of nineteen, Riccardo Battaglia packed up his bags and moved halfway around the world, from his hometown Pescara, Italy to New York City. He was chasing his dream of being a professional dancer. That door cracked itself open for him when he was awarded a scholarship to train at The Ailey School. This was just the beginning of his journey — a journey that has turned out to be a perfect circle with his return to Ailey as a company dancer.
It is easy to tell when meeting Riccardo that he is a person who was born to dance, with his exceptional talent, effortless charm, and determined work ethic. After graduating from The Ailey School, he danced for several widely recognized dance companies including Elisa Monte Dance, Ailey II, then to Chicago to share his artistry with Visceral Dance Chicago where he was a company member for two years. During those two years, Battaglia inspired our Chicago dance community by taking and teaching classes and of course by gracing the stage. Then, an opportunity came knocking again on Riccardo’s door. With most dance jobs, there is a good deal of luck involved, being at the right place at the right time with the right availability. That may be partially true here, but this opportunity was definitely earned through hard work, struggle, and dedication to the organization. In the middle of their 60th Anniversary season, Riccardo was offered a company dancer position with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
It is easy to tell when meeting Riccardo that he is a person who was born to dance, with his exceptional talent, effortless charm, and determined work ethic.
The company began in March of 1958 with a one-night-only performance at the 92nd St Y in Upper Manhattan. Since that night, the company has revolutionized American Modern Dance, bringing the African-American cultural experience and elements of spirituality to the forefront of their work. They’ve become one of the largest and most renowned companies in the world with thirty-two of the highest caliber dancers and more than 235 works in the company’s repertoire; one of those — their groundbreaking masterpiece Revelations — continues to be the most performed modern ballet in history. They have even been recognized by the U.S. Congress as a “Cultural Ambassador to the World”. In celebration of Ailey’s sixty glorious years, the company has embarked on a nationwide tour, entitled Ailey Ascending, in which they will visit twenty-one American cities. Next on their list of upcoming destinations is, you probably guessed it, Chicago!
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be in Chicago March 6-March 10 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. There will be six opportunities to see one of their historic performances. We could not wait to catch up with our friend Riccardo to learn about his very fresh Ailey experience, the Ailey Ascending Tour, and his brief return to Chicago. Here is what he told us:
They’ve become one of the largest and most renowned companies in the world with more than 235 works in the company’s repertoire; including their groundbreaking masterpiece Revelations, which continues to be the most performed Modern Ballet in history.
Crystal Gurrola: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the most legendary dance companies in the world. What does it feel like to be a part of a company so steeped in legacy and with such a wide global reach? As a new member, what was the rehearsal and assimilation process like for you?
Riccardo Battaglia: Being a dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is incredible and having the opportunity to keep Mr. Ailey’s legacy alive is a true blessing. There is so much history with this organization, and the role that this company plays in the dance world is extremely important. It’s amazing to be part of something bigger than you, something that reaches people all over the world.
As the newest member, I joined the company in November 2018 and my first performance was in December 2018 for the New York season at New York City Center. I had very few days in the studio, I had to learn my steps quickly and be ready in a few rehearsals. I was a member of Ailey II from 2013 to 2015. Ailey II is the junior company to AAADT and that experience was really helpful to me. Although it had been almost four years since I performed with the second company, the choreography of Revelations was still with me.
It’s amazing to be part of something bigger than you, something that reaches people all over the world.
Crystal: For the 60th Anniversary Season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has embarked on a twenty-one city American tour, amounting to more than eighty performances nationwide. What is life on the road like as part of such a vast National tour?
Riccardo: As I’m writing this I am on the bus, traveling from Atlanta to Charleston! Life on tour is pretty intense. The company right now is on a three-month long journey around North America. We spend anywhere from three to seven days in each city, which means we visit a lot of hotels and airports. Packing accordingly is also challenging because we go through every type of weather.
There are thirty-two dancers on the road plus almost twenty staff and crew members. We mostly travel by plane and for shorter distances, we have two buses. These people have quickly become my family since we spend so much time together.
It can be hard sometimes when you’re living out of suitcases, searching for food options that are open after the performances, and trying to keep your body healthy away from home. Still, it is one of the most beautiful experiences to visit so many places and theaters. What I love the most is the feeling of warmth and generosity from all the audiences. We get to touch people’s lives all over and that is fantastic!
There are thirty-two dancers on the road plus almost twenty staff and crew members. We mostly travel by plane and for shorter distances, we have two buses. These people have quickly become my family since we spend so much time together.
Crystal: What pieces are being presented during the anniversary tour? How are those chosen pieces of repertoire representative of Ailey’s rich sixty-year history? Do you have a favorite to perform?
Riccardo: The repertoire the company is bringing on tour for this anniversary is very vast. To mention a few, we have Wayne McGregor, Rennie Harris, Ronald K Brown, and Artistic Director Robert Battle as some of the presenting choreographers. You can see us dance styles ranging from contemporary ballet to modern to house all in the same performance. There is also a special program this season called Timeless Ailey, that includes excerpts of Alvin Ailey’s most beloved works including Night Creature, Cry, Love Songs, and Blues Suite just to name a few. I think it’s exciting for the audience to see how movement created over fifty years ago and current choreography can be performed by the same dancers. What brings everything together is the emotion, the connection, and the “Ailey spirit” that comes out when we are on stage. And of course Revelations! If you come to a performance you will see excerpts of this historical modern masterpiece.
I love performing them all, but the section of Revelations called Sinner Man is definitely my favorite. It’s a trio of three men and it’s the very first dance I ever saw the Alvin Ailey dancers perform when I was sixteen years old.
I think it’s exciting for the audience to see how movement created over fifty years ago and current choreography can be performed by the same dancers. What brings everything together is the emotion, the connection, and the “Ailey spirit” that comes out when we are on stage.
Crystal: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has had a fundamental impact on modern dance as it is today and achieved unprecedented esteem in the process. Since its founding, Ailey has been a leader in the arts and has laid the pavement for several generations of dancers and choreographers. At such a high pinnacle of greatness, how does the company continue to elevate and innovate? What will push the company forward as a leader in this new decade?
Riccardo: The dance world, especially dance companies and what we consider concert dance, is going through a difficult time. It’s hard to sell out theaters. It’s hard to tour and keep audiences engaged. It’s hard to bring new audience generation into seeing and supporting dance. I believe this company has been great at staying true to the original vision of Ailey, but still looking at and responding to the world today to keep itself up to date. I also think that dancers now, more than ever before, are exposed to very diverse training modalities and styles, through college programs and summer intensives. This current group of Ailey dancers not only has the knowledge passed down from our predecessors but expands upon that by bringing a great mix of technical modern and ballet training and the experience and knowledge of new contemporary forms.
This current group of Ailey dancers not only has the knowledge passed down from our predecessors but expands upon that by bringing a great mix of technical modern and ballet training and the experience and knowledge of new contemporary forms.
Crystal: Millions of dancers all around the world would say that dancing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a dream job. How did you get to this point? What has been the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of your experience?
Riccardo: It took a lot of hard work, experiences, and sacrifices. I auditioned for the company five times; I always made it until the last round but I wouldn’t get the job offer. It is all about timing. If it’s meant to be it will happen when it’s supposed to happen. I learned that throughout my career. There’s no need to rush things. If it doesn’t go the way you planned, perhaps it’s because you are not ready quite yet. My dream has been to dance for Alvin Ailey since I was a teenager and I didn’t give up on it, even when it took several years before I got to dance with this company.
I have only been performing with Ailey for four months, but it has been very intense and an incredible experience. I’m super excited to see what the future brings and I hope everyone in Chicago comes to the Auditorium Theatre March 6-10!
If it’s meant to be it will happen when it’s supposed to happen. I learned that throughout my career. There’s no need to rush things.
Celebrate Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 60th Anniversary by seeing a performance of Ailey Ascending at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60605).
Wednesday, March 6 at 7:00PM post-show Celebrating Ailey Soirée at Venue Six10
Thursday, March 7 at 7:30PM pre-show Revelations Choreography Workshop at 5:30PM. This is a free community class with Ailey dancers. Registration required.
Friday, March 8 at 11:00AM Student Matinee performance for K-12. Info here.
Friday, March 8 at 7:30PM
Saturday, March 9 at 2:00Pm pre-show Master Classes at 8:30AM and 10:15AM. These are free community classes with Ailey dancers. Registration required.
Saturday, March 9 at 8:ooPM
Sunday, March 10 at 3:00PM
For performance program information visit alvinailey.org. For tickets and special event information visit auditoriumtheater.org or call the Auditorium Theater Box Office at 312-341-2300 (box office hours here).
