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Ailey’s “Revelations” draws on African American spirituals

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Ailey described “Revelations” as “an evening-long saga about the Black experience,” and the performance had a huge impact on Black dancers when it premiered in 1960. “I was moved to tears seeing ‘Revelations,'” said Mary Barnett, Ailey’s rehearsal director from 1975 to 1979.

TRANSCRIPT

(group singing) - [Alvin] I remember there was this precession of people in white.

(group singing) They sang 'Wade in the Water'. ♪ Wade in the Water ♪ ♪ Wade in the Water ♪ ♪ Wade in the Water ♪ I came up with a piece, an evening-long saga about the Black experience.

(group singing) It was called 'Revelations.'

♪ I've been 'buked ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, yes ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, yes ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, yes ♪ ♪ I've been 'buked ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, children ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, children ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned, children ♪ ♪ I've been 'buked ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ I've been talked about, ♪ ♪ I've been talked about, ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ There is trouble all over this world, yes ♪ ♪ There is trouble all over this world, yes ♪ ♪ There is trouble all over this world, children ♪ ♪ There is trouble all over this world, children ♪ ♪ There is trouble all over this world, children ♪ ♪ I've been 'buked ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ And I've been scorned ♪ ♪ I've been talked about, ♪ ♪ I've been talked about, ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ ♪ Show's you're born ♪ (chiming music) (chiming music) (chiming music) (chiming music)

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