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Two dancers in blue leotards, one jumping and the other leaning backward, looking at one another

New York, NY

Opening Night Gala

Dec 3

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Date

Dec 3

Location

  • New York City Center
  • 131 West 55th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues)
  • New York, NY

Time

7PM
Time is subject to change. Dinner and dancing to follow at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, 141 W 54th Street. 
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Honoring Daria L. Wallach

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, AILEY will kick off its 2025–26 New York City Center season with its highly anticipated Opening Night Gala. The night marks the inaugural season of AILEY’s new Artistic Director, Alicia Graf Mack and will honor Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Daria L. Wallach for her visionary leadership, meaningful contributions, and invaluable commitment to AILEY and its legacy.

The evening will feature A Case of You, a moving duet choreographed by Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, accompanied by a one-night-only performance by five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning jazz artist Samara Joy, the company premiere of Medhi Walerski’s Blink of an Eye with a GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist, Melissa White, and conclude with Alvin Ailey’s indelible Revelations, accompanied by a full choir. Dinner and dancing at the Ziegfeld Ballroom will immediately follow.

Proceeds from the Gala support the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, including the creation of new works, scholarships for talented students at The Ailey School, and AILEY’s innovative educational programs for children.  

Programs, casting, and prices are subject to change without notice.

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Contact Us

Black Tie or Festive Dress

For more information, please call 212-405-9029. 

Support the Benefit

If you are unable to attend, please consider making a contribution.

Co-ChairsJody & John Arnhold
Emily & Len Blavatnik
Jack Pitts
Eric J. Wallach
Joan & Sandy Weill
Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer 
Vice ChairsAnthony S. Kendall
Anthony A. Lewis
Honorary CommitteeColman Domingo, Chair
Council Member Gale A. Brewer
Michael Ealy
Jennifer Garner
Yvonne Orji
Christian Siriano
Anna Deavere Smith
Bryan Stevenson
Paul Tazewell 
AILEY TrailblazersEric J. Wallach
Gillian Wynn 
AILEY ChampionsJody & John Arnhold
Emily & Len Blavatnik
Joan & Sandy Weill
Pamela D. Zilly & John H. Schaefer 
AILEY BenefactorsMitchell Titus LLP
Prudential Financial
Verizon Communications 
AILEY VisionariesAmerican Express
Vickee Jordan Adams
Angela & Robert Kissane 
Morgan Stanley/Oti Roberts
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
AILEY InnovatorsAkin
Bank of America
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Cleary Gottlieb
Laura & Howard Corb
Jaileah X. Huddleston
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
PayPal
Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn & Nicolas S. Rohatyn
Ropes & Gray LLP
Elaine & Larry Rothenberg
Savills / Elizabeth & Arthur J. Mirante II
Warner Bros. Discovery
Wells Fargo 
SupportersJune Adams
Eleanor S. Applewhaite
Joan Binstock & David Silvers
Office of Government and Community Affairs, Columbia University
Kathy L. Frazier
Marguerite & Peter Gelfman
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Henry & Celia McGee
David Monn
Victoria Lasdon Rose & Donald J. Rose, M.D.
Tawana Tibbs & Bruce S. Gordon
Linsey Tully & Joseph Racioppo 
Karen Wagner & David Caplan
 Listings as of October 30, 2025
Ailey's 2022 Opening Night Gala. A wide shot of a grand ballroom. There are tables with arrangements and flowers, images of dancers projected on the walls, and a band warming up in the background.

Ailey's 2022 Opening Night Gala. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

A room full of people dancing in a ballroom. There is a pink tint to the picture due to lights from the stage.

Guests dancing at Ailey's 2023 Opening Night Gala. Photo by Pete Monsanto.

A ballroom with five different images of dancers projected onto the wall. There is a bar with glasses at the bottom of the image. There is a crystal chandelier at the top of the image.

Ailey's 2022 Opening Night Gala, Ziegfeld Ballroom. Photo by Donna Ward.

A group of dancers on stage, alternating men and women. The men are in black pants and white button down shirts. The women are in yellow dresses with hats.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's Revelations, Ailey Spirit Gala 2022. Photo by Donna Ward.

People dancing in a grand ballroom. There are two women in the middle of the image. They are clapping their hands and smiling. The woman slightly in the front of the image has a black dress on with many silver necklaces.

Guests Dancing at Opening Night Gala. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

A man on stage in a black suit. He is the lead singer of a band and he is smiling at the crowd.

Elan Artists performing at Ailey's 2023 Opening Night Gala. Photo by Christopher Duggan.

A group of people dancing in a ballroom. There is a man with grey hair and a tuxedo in the middle smiling and dancing.

Guests dancing at Ailey's 2023 Opening Night Gala. Photo by Pete Monsanto.

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Hero Credit: Photo by Andrew Eccles