Skip to content
Female dancers holding their hand together in the air

Repertory

The Golden Section

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

RUN TIME

18 Minutes

COMPANY PREMIERE

New York City Center, 2006

WORLD PREMIERE

Bass Concert Hall University of Texas Austin, 1983

MUSIC

David Byrne

COSTUMES

Santo Loquasto

LIGHTING

Jennifer Tipton

STAGING

Shelley Washington

The Golden Section by Tony Award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp sizzles like never before when performed by the fearless Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers. Set to a propulsive new wave rock score by David Byrne, the ballet shatters the limits of human physicality with breathtaking leaps, finely-honed partnering, and explosive joy. It is “dancing of astonishing beauty and power,” raved The New Yorker.

Originally performed as the finale of The Catherine Wheel, a full-length evening of dance that premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 1981, The Golden Section (named for the gilded athletic outfits worn by the dancers) was first performed as a stand-alone excerpt two years after the Broadway production, and the Ailey company first performed it in 2006. 

Two dancers in yellow attire perform on stage. One dancer leaps high with arms extended, while the other stands behind with arms positioned for support. The background is dark, emphasizing the dancers' movements.

Clifton Brown and Glenn Allen Sims in Twyla Tharp's The Golden Section  Photo by Paul Kolnik

Five dancers in yellow costumes perform a synchronized dance on stage. They are positioned dynamically with bent knees and arms, emphasizing movement. The background is dark, focusing attention on the dancers.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Twyla Tharp's The Golden Section Photo by Paul Kolnik

Best Revival of 2017. 'The Golden Section' has not been performed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 2006. A dense and fun and funny concoction with split-second timing; nothing breaks these dancers' stride.

– Wendy Perron, Dance Magazine

Funders

This production of The Golden Section was made possible with generous support from The Jaharis Family Foundation.