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The Ailey company forming a large circle with their arms in the air, in front of a blue background

Repertory

Roy's Joys

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

RUN TIME

29 Minutes

COMPANY PREMIERE

New York City Center, 2022

WORLD PREMIERE

Tharp! New York City Center, 1997

MUSIC

Roy Eldridge

STAGING

Shelley Washington, Assistant to Ms. Washington – Roger Jeffrey

ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGN

Santo Loquasto

ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGN

Jennifer Tipton

LIGHTING DESIGN

Roya Abab

This silky, sultry work embodies the spontaneity of the 1940s and '50s jazz soundtrack by Roy Eldridge. Mixing vernacular dance with ballet and modern technique, it exudes an easy, carefree energy that shows Twyla Tharp’s choreography at its rollicking best. 

Two men crouching down and swingings one arm towards the other, and one arm away from the other

Alvin American American Dance Theater's James Glimar and Soloman Dumas in Twylat Tharp's Roy's Joys Photo by Paul Kolnik

James Gilmer lying on the floor, Jacquelin Harris and Deidre Rogan are holding his hands

Alvin American American Dance Theater's Jacquelin Harris, Deidre Rogan, and James Gilmer in Twyla Tharp's Roy's Joys Photo by Paul Kolnik

Two dancers lunge towards one another reaching their arms out wide.

Alvin American American Dance Theater's Yannick Lebrun and Samantha Figgins in Twyla Tharps' Roy's Joys Photo by Paul Kolnik

Music Credits

“Just Fooling” by Roy Eldridge. “Une Petite Laitue”, “I Remember Harlem”, “Baby Don’t Be Like That”, “L’isle Adam”, and “Tu Disais Qu’tu M’aimais” by Roy Eldridge with Benny Vasseur, Albert Ferreri, William Boucaya, Raymond Fol, Barney Spieler and Robert Barnet. “Oh Shut Up!” and “Hollywood Pastime” by Roy Eldridge with Don Byas, Claude Bolling, Guy de Fatto, and Armand Molinetti; all from Roy Eldrige Vol. II “French Cooking”.

Funders

Major support of Roy's Joys was made possible by Elaine & Larry Rothenberg.