Sacred Spaces | by Matthew Rushing

Few works in modern dance carry the legacy of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, a masterpiece set to spirituals and gospel music that has moved audiences worldwide since 1960 and remains the most widely seen work in modern dance history. In Sacred Spaces, Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing and Co-creator and Musical Director Du’Bois A’Keen revisit that legacy through a new lens.

Sacred Spaces expands on Sacred Places: Decoding the Spiritual, developed during Rushing and A’Keen’s residency at Duke Divinity School this past April. The work originated from Rushing’s vision to build a ballet around spirituals removed from Revelations when it was shortened for touring.

Sacred Spaces explores memory, community, and cultural inheritance. Performed by musicians, vocalists, dancers, and visual artists from across the Triangle, this new work honors the spirituality and communal spirit of Revelations while standing firmly on its own as a contemporary work.