Beyond the Steps: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which primarily features African-American artists, has been one of the fixtures of modern dance in New York for nearly 50 years, continuing to flourish under artistic director Judith Jamison after founder Ailey's death in 1989. Phil Bertelsen's documentary profile Beyond the Steps celebrates the company's 2005 move to a spacious new facility on Ninth Avenue, as well as the creation of a major new work entitled Love Stories (with segments choreographed by Jamison, Rennie Harris, and Robert Battle—set to music by Stevie Wonder), and ultimately follows the troupe to the White Nights Dance Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. Combining behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage (as well as archival clips featuring Ailey) with interviews of choreographers and dancers, Beyond the Steps effectively conveys the dance troupe's passion and talent, which together account for its longevity and fame. Both an exuberant introduction to the Ailey troupe's paramount role in modern dance, and an inspiration to performers everywhere, DVD extras here include the notable bonus of the complete performance of Love Stories at St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre during the 2005 tour. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)