Ailey II | April 10 & 11, 2026 | Fri & Sat 7:30pm | Touhill Performing Arts Center
6:30PM | Free pre-show tribute to Chuck Berry (Terrace Lobby)
• Live music performance by What the Chuck! tribute band, featuring Chuck Berry’s son and grandsons
• “Speaking of Dance” pre-show Q&A with Ailey II led by Dance St. Louis Artistic Director Michael Uthoff
• Art exhibit inspired by the life & music of Chuck Berry
• Fashion tribute and exhibit honoring the Father of Rock & Roll
7:30PM | Performance (A-B Performance Hall)
“The dancers in Ailey II are spectacular beings”
– The New York Times
“indefatigable, virtuosic and relentlessly sexy”
– Los Angeles Times
“Some of the country’s best young dancers.”
– The Kansas City Star
“Off-the-charts energy”
– The New Yorker
“Highbrow/Brilliant”
– New York Magazine
“Second to none.”
– Dance Magazine
“Wow factor aplenty…”
– Herald Scotland
“superb young dancers, with powerful jumps, leg extensions that never quit, and innate theatricality…”
– The Village Voice
“The performers’ technique and performance quality continues to be some of the best in the country.”
– The Examiner
Ailey II with Artistic Director Francesca Harper and Rehearsal Director Shay Bland. Photo by Nir Arieli.
Ailey II in Chalvar Monteiro's Berry Dreamin'. Photo by Nir Arieli.
Ailey II's A. Jordan T. Strickland M. van den Heuvel in Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Nir Arieli.
The legendary Ailey II will rock St. Louis on Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center in an unforgettable weekend of world-class dance and iconic music.
The Ailey II presentation includes a world premiere commissioned by Dance St. Louis for the 60th Anniversary Season – BERRY DREAMIN – a nod to the music, life and impact of the “Father of Rock and Roll” Chuck Berry.
Celebrating his birth 100 years ago and the music that transformed our nation, choreographer Chalvar Monteiro and Ailey II Artistic Director Francesca Harper take St. Louis on a journey with Ailey II dancers as our storytellers.
AILEY II
THE NEXT GENERATION OF DANCE
For over 50 years, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers.
Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people.
Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs.
Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.
SINGLE TICKETS
Single tickets are on sale through MetroTix for $67.50, $83.75, $99.
(*Price includes ALL ticket fees)
DISCOUNTED 4-PACKS
Buy more and save. Discounted 4-packs start at $226.
(*Price includes ALL ticket fees)
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FREE PRE-SHOW PROGRAM AT 6:30 P.M.
Audiences are invited to arrive early for a free pre-show program in the Touhill’s Terrace Lobby:
• Live performance by What the Chuck! Tribute Band, featuring Chuck Berry's son and grandsons
• “Speaking of Dance” Q&A led by Dance St. Louis Artistic Director Michael Uthoff interviewing representatives from Ailey II
• Art exhibit inspired by the life & music of Chuck Berry by CVPA and Grand Center Arts Academy
• Fashion tribute and exhibit honoring the Father of Rock & Roll by Sumner High School
TOP BANNER: Ailey II in Alvin Ailey’s Revelations. Photo by Eduardo Patino.
MIDDLE GALLERY: Ailey II. Photos by Nir Arieli.
Touhill Performing Arts Center
Map
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