Even if ballet’s not your bag, you’ll be blown away by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The group’s Linda Celeste Sims talks about performing the most widely seen modern dance work in the world – and never getting tired of it.

Like every dancer in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Linda Celeste Sims remembers the night she first performed Revelations.

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey himself in 1960, the piece closes every performance when the company tours abroad.

“We’re the only company who does this piece, and it’s such a powerful work for so many reasons,” said Linda.

“So if we go back to a theatre after a couple of years and we don’t do Revelations, people get kind of upset.”

Linda still clearly recalls her nerve-racking first night and today watches new dancers go through the same thing when they join the company.

“You’re not really considered an Ailey dancer until you’ve performed your first Revelations,” said Linda.

“It’s like a baptism, and when it happens it’s really very special. All the dancers on stage congratulate you at the end. It’s a very nervous but beautiful moment.”

It’s not just the dancers who view Revelations as special – audiences across the world love the work.

Set to a selection of traditional African-American gospel songs, the piece is both moving and thrilling and features large ensemble sections and more intimate, tender duets.

Linda joined the company in 1996, so has danced the work more times than she can remember. But it remains as fresh as the first time she danced it.

“We can all feel the energy from the audience,” she said. “When you hear that first note, before the curtain has even gone up, there is applause – so you know you’re getting ready to do something special. Then, when the curtain rises, there’s an intake of breath, as if people are saying ‘yes, Revelations! I’ve been waiting all night for this piece’. The music is so touching and the movement speaks for itself – so the audience can feel what we’re feeling.”

Revelations is, of course, only one aspect of what the company has to offer and there are three other works on the programme.

“I often speak to people after a performance,” said Linda.

“It really changes people’s idea of what dance is, if they maybe think it can be kind of boring. But because we bring a little bit of everything, people who don’t even like going to the theatre love it. Which is so cool!”

THE COMPANY

One of the world’s most popular dance companies, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will make their Canterbury debut this weekend.

Founded in 1958, the company are recognised by the US Congress as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World” and celebrate the human spirit through the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition.

The show will include the UK premiere of After the Rain Pas de Deux by Christopher Wheeldon, and Exodus by hip hop choreographer Rennie Harris plus two Ailey classics – Night Creature set to Duke Ellington’s music and Revelations, the most widely-seen modern dance work in the world, Ailey’s masterpiece.

DETAILS

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is at the Marlowe Theatre on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15. For tickets from £19 call 01227 787787 or go to marlowetheatre.com