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“Last year, as soon as the first person in<br />
the Ukraine Symphony Orchestra stepped<br />
on stage,” he says, “the audience leaped to<br />
their feet. The orchestra didn’t expect the<br />
reception they received here. At the end,<br />
the Ukrainian flags came out on stage.<br />
World events have an effect on the arts like<br />
they do on everything else.<br />
“You can’t describe the effect of live<br />
performances. You don’t get it unless you<br />
go. You go home on a cloud because something<br />
happened that you can’t put into<br />
words.”<br />
In 1991, Opelika and Birmingham were<br />
the first to invite the Alvin Ailey America<br />
Dance Company for its first ever performances<br />
in Alabama. The dance group<br />
is now the most well-known African-<br />
American dance group in the world.<br />
Michael Kaiser, former president of the<br />
Kennedy Center, relayed in his book about<br />
his tenure managing the Ailey company,<br />
“The most moving of all the tour dates I<br />
experienced at Ailey was not in a major<br />
world capital but in Opelika, Alabama.”<br />
UPCOMING SEASON<br />
This season opens with the Johnny Cash<br />
Experience featuring songs and stories<br />
narrated by his son. Other performances<br />
include Cleo Parker Robinson Dance<br />
with the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra,<br />
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Canadian Brass,<br />
The King’s Singers, Sofia Philharmonic<br />
Orchestra, Jonathan Dely and his All-Star<br />
Band, and Mandy Gonzalez in Concert.<br />
“After all of these years of bringing people<br />
to Opelika and having them discover<br />
us,” the director adds, “now our hardworking<br />
arts groups here at home will get<br />
to share the stage with the Big Dogs!”<br />
EAA is also working on its first production<br />
and booking effort for a statewide<br />
tour. “After the performance of ‘We’ll<br />
Meet Again,’ last August,” Phillip says,<br />
“Coach Bruce Pearl was so impressed that<br />
he offered his support to remount the<br />
show so that more people across Alabama,<br />
adults and students, could have that same<br />
experience.<br />
“It is an exciting time for the arts.”<br />
For tickets to the Performance Series, contact<br />
East Alabama Arts at the Southside Center for<br />
the Arts at 1103 Glenn Street in Opelika. Call<br />
334.749.8105, Monday through Friday from 10<br />
a.m. until 2 p.m., or purchase tickets online at<br />
www.eastalabamaarts.org.<br />
Come see us in Midtown!<br />
http://theyogaroomau.com/<br />
@theyogaroomau<br />
Try our $30 for 30<br />
New Student Special!<br />
EAST ALABAMA LIVING 21
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