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New York Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘The Holy Blues' Review: Finding the Spiritual in the Secular at BAM
Whispers, rattles, drums — that's what we hear at the start of 'The Holy Blues,' Jawole Willa Jo Zollar's new work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Then the curtain rises on what looks like a tree trunk with a door that opens to disgorge dancers, one by one. They run and stumble as if they've been ejected, spat out. As this happens, we hear another sound, among the most sweetly soulful ever: the voice of Sam Cooke. This is Cooke back when he was the lead singer of the Soul Stirrers, a gospel group, and before he helped created secular soul music. This is Cooke when he lent his heavenly voice to spiritual songs like the one we hear, 'One More River.' But the later Cooke of 'Having a Party' and 'A Change Is Gonna Come' was no less spiritual. And that continuity — between church on Sunday and twistin' the night away — is the subject of 'The Holy Blues.' The work — conceived and directed by Zollar in collaboration with Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro, both company members — reaches back even further. The door (scenic design by Joseph Anthony Gaito) represents the Door of No Return, the symbolic aperture through which enslaved Africans were forced from their home. 'The Holy Blues,' which premiered during the company's run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music this week, is a story of Africans in America. The running, stumbling dancers are strangers in a strange land. They cling to one another and drift. Collapsing and rising, they find solace and strength in Christianity, but it is a Christianity they make their own, remembering African circle dances in the 'ring shout,' circumambulating a tree with bottles on its branches. This is danced religion. The dancers shake and swoon, slain in the spirit. They catch those who fall or dip them backward, as in baptism. They also dance the blues. To the Delta blues turned Chicago electric of Howlin' Wolf, they behave as if in a juke joint, doing the slow drag in couples and clumps. The return of the ring shout in this context makes the point about continuity, the joy-from-anguish in Cooke's voice. Then the dancers strip down to their underwear as if exposing their souls, dip one another some more to a gospel choir singing 'Peace Be Still,' a gospel hymn recorded in response to the Birmingham church bombing of 1963, and lift one of their members to walk on the air and into the light. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rod Stewart Is 'Forever Young' While Accepting Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 AMAs
Rod Stewart delivered a lively performance of 'Forever Young' at the 2025 American Music Awards Monday night as he received the AMA's lifetime achievement award. Ahead of his set, all five of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's children took the stage to honor their father. A subsequent video was played to showcase the extensiveness of Stewart's career. More from The Hollywood Reporter Janet Jackson Performs "Someone to Call My Lover" and "All for You" During First Televised Performance in 7 Years at 2025 AMAs Jennifer Lopez Kicks Off 2025 AMAs Dancing to Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan Hits Miley Cyrus Got a "Brutal Infection" After Filming on Hollywood Walk of Fame: "My Leg Began to Disintegrate" 'When I started singing the early '60s, way before any of you lot were here, the reason I got into it is because I had this burning ambition to sing,' he said. 'It's all I wanted to do, I didn't want be rich or famous, and here I am a few years later, picking up this wonderful award.' 'I want to thank all of the musicians I've played with, all of my influences,' he said, heaping praise to Sam Cooke, David Ruffin and Muddy Waters. After accepting the honor, Stewart sang his 1988 track 'Forever Young,' dancing across the stage as his accompanying dancers and musicians led an upbeat, high-spirited performance. Monday night marked Stewart's return to the AMAs, his first appearance at the award show in over two decades since he last performed a rendition of Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' during the show back in 2004. Jennifer Lopez pulled double duty on Monday, acting as the night's host and one of the award show's many performers. Alongside Lopez, Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson and Reneé Rapp took the stage as well. Janet Jackson gave her first TV performance in seven years at the 2025 AMAs while she was notably honored with the Icon Award. Previously, the 'That's the Way Love Goes' singer received the Billboard Music Awards Icon Award in 2018, where she performed a medley of 'Nasty,' 'If' and 'Throb.' Billie Eilish won artist of the year and Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft won album of the year while 'Birds of a Feather' took home song of the year. Gracie Abrams was crowned new artist of the year. Heading into Monday night, Kendrick Lamar led this year's nominees with 10 nominations, followed closely by Post Malone, Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey. The AMAs were created by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Corporation, The Hollywood Reporter's parent company, in a subsidiary joint venture between Penske Media and Eldridge. Check out the star-studded arrivals and the night's full list of winners. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
