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A woman in a white dress is lunging to one side with her arms outstretched. There are rows of candles behind her.

Repertory

Witness

COMPANIES

CHOREOGRAPHER

COMPANY PREMIERE

Lyric Theater, Kansas City, MO 1986

WORLD PREMIERE

Royal Theater, Copenhagen, 1986

RESTAGING

Masazumi Chaya

MUSIC

Sung by Jessye Norman

DÉCOR

Douglas Grekin and Patrick Venn

COSTUMES

Kirsten Lund Nielsen

LIGHTING

Tim Hunter

RUN TIME

9 Minutes

Alone on a stage covered with flickering candles, a woman embarks on a spiritual journey that echoes the repeated lyric "my soul is a witness for my Lord." Alvin Ailey drew inspiration from a recording of traditional spirituals sung by Jessye Norman to create this stirring ballet celebrating the female dancer’s strength, elegance, and versatility.

A woman is tilted with one leg in the air and arms outstretched. There are rows of candles behind her.

 Renee Robinson in Alvin Ailey's Witness Photo by Paul Kolnik

A woman in a white dress is lunging to one side with her arms outstretched. There are rows of candles behind her.

Renee Robinson in Alvin Ailey's Witness Photo by Paul Kolnik