The River: Duke Ellington and Alvin Ailey

Duke Ellington composed The River in 1970 as part of a collaboration between himself and Alvin Ailey, who requested Ellington's assistance after he was commissioned by the American Ballet Theatre to create a ballet for that company. This suite, in seven movements, represents the natural course of a river. The movements are called:

1: Spring
2: Meander
3: Giggling Rapids
4: Lake
5: Vortex
6: Riba
7: Village Virgins

I've seen several ballerinas dance the Vortex section, from Leslie Browne in the Oscar-nominated film "The Turning Point," to an Alvin Ailey dancer, who captured all I believe Ailey wanted that section to be -- visceral, forceful, sassy, sexy, and exhilerating. Unfortunately, I can't find a video of any of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre performances, but I was able to find two dancers, one from Baltimore, Jennifer Gelfand, and one from the Czech Republic, Ida Fišerová, who seem to be giving this dance all they have. I have to tell you though, the Alvin Ailey dancer, whose name I don't remember from the mid-90s, had more attitude and HIPS than these ladies. I only hope that I can eventually find it. It's a REVELATION.

Jennifer Gelfand, performing "Vortex" from The River Suite:
Ida Fišerová, performing "Vortex" from The River Suite:
And here's the song "Vortex" by Duke Ellington: