The future of dance is taking center stage in Pittsburgh as the August Wilson African American Cultural Center proudly presents Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance.

Pittsburgh, PA — On Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:30pm, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) welcomes Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance to Pittsburgh as part of a 39-city world tour. The 2025-2026 repertory features four compelling world premieres by emerging and established choreographers including former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II member Chalvar Monteiro, Rena Butler, Renée I. McDonald, and My’Kal Stromile.

“Ailey II represents the brilliance of what’s next in the world of dance,” said Janis Burley, President and CEO of AWAACC. “We are thrilled to welcome them to Pittsburgh and share this electrifying experience with our community.”

For more than five decades, Ailey II has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with the passion and artistry of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as a bridge between The Ailey School and the professional dance world, the company embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to nurture the next generation of talented artists and reach audiences around the world by making dance accessible to all. Under Artistic Director Francesca Harper’s direction, Ailey II is forging a new path for modern dance—one that’s inclusive, experimental, and transformative.

The program on October 7 includes Alvin Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score by Miloslav Kabela; My’Kal Stromile’s Third Person Point of View, a piece inviting the audience to witness from the outside, observing a relationship as it unfolds without ever being directly addressed; Renée I. McDonald’s Likes vs Life, a work featuring three dancers wrestling with powerful forces, the need to connect, and the desire to escape; and the evening culminates with Alvin Ailey’s signature must-see American masterpiece, Revelations.

Please visit pressroom.alvinailey.org/ailey-ii for bios, hi-res downloadable photos, and b-roll. Interviews with Ailey II company members are available upon request.

Following the performance, AWAACC will host a special post-event party at the Center from 9:30p-11:00p., giving guests an opportunity to celebrate the evening together, mingle with fellow arts supporters, and continue the night’s energy with music, refreshments, and community connection.

Event Details:

  • What: Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance
  • Where: August Wilson African American Cultural Center | 980 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222
  • When: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:30PM
  • Tickets start at $63
  • Tickets on sale now at awaacc.org/event/ailey-ii-the-next-generation-of-dance

Ailey II Matinee Launches Arts Ambassador Program

Earlier in the day, a special Ailey II student matinee will serve as the inaugural event of AWAACC’s new Arts Ambassador Program — an initiative that invites 10th grade students from Westinghouse Academy, The Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, and University Preparatory School to connect with world-class art across dance, music, theater, and visual arts

The Arts Ambassador Program is designed to engage youth with a journey through the arts, providing students with access to live performances, gallery exhibitions, artist talks, and in-school workshops. By beginning with Ailey II — a company that itself bridges training and professional artistry — the program underscores AWAACC’s mission to empower the next generation of cultural ambassadors and to deepen students’ appreciation for artistic excellence and self-expression.

ABOUT AILEY II: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE

Ailey II—the second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as a bridge between The Ailey School and the professional dance world, Ailey II embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular dance companies in the country under the leadership of Sylvia Waters from 1974–2012, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. With Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, Ailey II is forging a new path for modern dance—one that’s inclusive, experimental, and transformative. For more information, visit ailey.org/aileyii.

ABOUT AUGUST WILSON AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a nonprofit cultural organization located in Pittsburgh’s cultural district that generates artistic, educational, and community initiatives that advance the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson.

One of the largest cultural centers in the country focused exclusively on the African American experience and the celebration of Black culture and the African diaspora, the non-profit organization welcomes more than 100,000 visitors locally and nationally.

Through year-round programming across multiple genres, such as the annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Black Bottom Film Festival, AWCommunity Days, TRUTHSayers speaker series, and rotating art exhibits in its galleries, the Center provides a platform for established and emerging artists of color whose work reflects the universal issues of identity that Wilson tackled, and which still resonate today.

Major support for AWAACC’s operations is provided by Richard King Mellon Foundation, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD). AWAACC’s programming is made possible by generous support from its donors. For a complete list, visit our website: awaacc.org

 

Media Contacts

Kiki B. Jones | Nice 2 Media Marketing & Promotions, LLC: (443) 252-3923 | kbrown@awaacc.org

Khalil Waldron: (412) 742-4771 | kwaldron@awaacc.org