"Hymn" Alvin Ailey Documentary Screening & Talkback

Visit the Gantt to view this incredible documentary, Hymn, about the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey and his immeasurable impact on the art of dance which has endured for generations. Dancer, teacher, and Gantt Golden Year Dancer-in-Residence, LaTanya Johnson will lead a talkback after viewing the film.

Hymn, the stunning, Emmy Award-winning 1993 tribute to Alvin Ailey, is a unique collaboration between two highly acclaimed talents from the worlds of dance and theater. Judith Jamison's choreography uses explosive ensemble dances and quiet solos to dramatize Ailey's humanity and the dancers' unique qualities.

Anna Deavere Smith's narrative employs text derived from interviews with the dancers and Ailey's own words to create a love letter to an extraordinary man. Words and dancing illuminate each other, and the audience is taken on an episodic exploration of Ailey's incredible contributions to dance and humanity.

LaTanya Johnson’s rhythmic journey blends the art of movement and storytelling through voice, theater, and visual arts.

Johnson choreographed and provided movement coaching for many productions including, A Raisin in the Sun, Seven Guitars, Ain't Misbehavin’, The Bluest Eye, For the Love of Harlem, A Soldier's Play, and The Piano Lesson. She has worked with Theatre Charlotte, On Q Productions, Free Reign Theater Company, and Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions. In 2016, Johnson curated a dance series in celebration of the Gantt Center’s 40th Anniversary, entitled "Catch the Dance".

Johnson’s conservatory training includes Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company), Historical New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, and Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute, to name a few. She is the founder and artistic director of the Sycamore Project, a Charlotte-based “artivist” initiative using the arts to advocate and promote social and environmental justice.