See Queen Latifah, Cicely Tyson, and More at Alvin Ailey’s Opening Night Gala

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater kicked off its five-week holiday engagement at New York City Center November 29 with an opening night gala benefit performance and party. Queen Latifah and Janelle Monáe served as honorary chairs for the evening honoring Ailey Board President Debra L. Lee.

The gala raised over $2.4 million in support of the creation of new works, scholarships to The Ailey School, and Ailey’s extensive educational programs for young people.

The “Modern American Songbook” program featured performances set to music by icons Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The performance concluded with Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, performed with live musicians and singers.

Flip through photos of the performance and party below:

See Queen Latifah, Cicely Tyson, and More at Alvin Ailey’s Opening Night Gala

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Revelations_1_2017_HR.jpg — See Queen Latifah, Cicely Tyson, and More at Alvin Ailey’s Opening Night Gala

Queen Latifah and Janelle Monáe served as honorary chairs for the evening, held November 29.
28 PHOTOS

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Shining_Star_1_2017_HR.jpg — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims in David Parsons’ *Shining Star*

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Shining_Star_2_2017_HR.jpg — Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater‘s Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims in David Parsons’ *Shining Star*

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Michael_Francis_McBride_Almaz_Strachan_2017_HR.jpg — Michael Francis McBride, Strachan's daughters, and Almaz Strachan

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Susan_Tyler_Cicely_Tyson_2017_HR.jpg — Susan Taylor and Cicely Tyson

Courtesy of Ailey, DCP

Alvin_Ailey_Opening_Night_Gala_Bennett_Rink_Debra_Lee_2017_HR.jpg — Bennett Rink and Debra Lee

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