In honor of its 60th anniversary, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will present a celebratory season titled “Ailey Ascending.” The season will include its first two-act ballet, a festival, an international tour, and a month of performances at City Center.

Founded in 1958 by Alvin Ailey as a one-night only performance at Manhattan’s 92Y, the company has continued to grow and thrive. The company will tour to Athens, Greece, and Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland in September before returning to New York for a festival of performances, classes, and talks at Ailey CitiGroup Theatre. The festival, named “Choreography Unlocked,” will feature performances by Once On This Island choreographer Camillie A. Brown and more; classes will be taught by AAADT artistic director Robert Battle, Stefanie Batten Bland and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.

“What Mr. Ailey gave us is more than a repertory and a tradition,” Robert Battle, the organization’s artistic director, said in a statement. “It is a movement, a direction, a desire, a conviction that if the spirit is to live it must rise. We dedicate our 60th anniversary to the next ascent.”

From November 28–December 30, the two-act ballet “Lazarus” will run at City Center, choreographed by Rennie Harris. The program will also include the premiere of Ronald K. Brown’s “The Call.” Programs will also include Jessica Lang’s “EN,” Battle’s “Juba,” and more.

Following the winter City Center season, AAADT will tour the U.S. The junior division will return to 92Y for a special performance February 1, 2019.

For more information about the anniversary season, click here.