Alvin Ailey Dancers Take Center Stage In Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- One of the most celebrated modern dance troupes, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is back in South Florida at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.

The premiere African American dance troupe is lead by Miami's own Robert Battle as Artistic Director. Battle always enjoys returning to his roots where he saw his first Alvin Ailey performance.

"It inspired me, it took me from Liberty City to New York City and now the helm of the company and now back to Miami," Battle told CBS4's Vanessa Borge. "When I saw the Ailey Company for the first time and saw 'Revelations', Alvin Ailey's masterpiece, I saw everything I grew up on in every single dance work."

"Revelations" is one of the pieces that is performed by another Miami native and an Alvin Ailey star, Jamar Roberts.

"It's probably one of the most exciting shows you'll catch in Miami right now," Roberts said.

The Alvin Ailey Dance Company is making leaps and bounds in the South Florida community as well.

Classes are held throughout schools in Miami for other aspiring dancers.

"Dance really does make a difference and I know it made a difference for me, I'm living proof of it," Battle said.

The 21-city tour is stopping in Miami for five performances this weekend that will leave the audience in awe and disbelief.

"I think they'll leave humming a tune, or thinking about some movement a dancer does because I really think the Alvin Ailey dancers do defy gravity," Battle said.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance. The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 23 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents as well as millions more through television broadcast

The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre is performing at the Adrienne Arsht Center through Sunday, Feb. 24th. For more information go to www.arshtcenter.org