Will Rawls: Parable of the Guest

Floor 3, Theater

December 13, 7 pm
December 14, 2 pm, 7 pm
December 15, 7 pm

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Presented as part of Edges of Ailey, Parable of the Guest is an homage to choreographer, Ulysses Dove, and his iconic presence in the Ailey Company's repertoire.

Choreography and Installation: Will Rawls
Dancers: Shelby Davis, Alana Jones
Music and Sound Design: Jimmy Garver
Additional Music: Rena Anakwe
*Excerpts from "Quorum" courtesy of composer Mikel Rouse; excerpts from Two by Dove courtesy of The WNET Group
Lighting Design: Arsenio Apillanes
Costume Design: Zarah Green
Hair Design: Shirley Sherman

Dramaturgy: Mlondi Zondi
Additional Dramaturgy: Moriah Evans
Life Support: Lily Baldwin, Tiffany Barber, Kennis Hawkins, Sarah Michelson, Tara Willis 

Thank you to Arsenio Apillanes for your brilliance, skill and tireless dedication in the early phases of design for Parable of the Guest during our technical residency in the Department of World Arts and Cultures / Dance at UCLA, November 2024.

Will Rawls is a multidisciplinary choreographer, dancer, and writer. In 2023, his performance and video installation, [siccer], toured to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Momentary, On the Boards, and Portland Institute for Contemporary Art. Other recent presentations include the 35th Bienal de São Paulo, Counterpublic 2023 and Liste Art Fair. He has received fellowships and residencies from the Guggenheim Foundation, Herb Alpert Foundation, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, United States Artists, Rauschenberg Foundation, and the MacDowell Colony. His writing has been published by the Hammer Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, and Dancing While Black Journal. He is currently Associate Professor of Choreography in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA.

Shelby Davis has been training in multiple styles of dance for over 25 years. For the last 10 years, she has worked professionally as both a performer and choreographer. Her experience includes performing with many great artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Michael Buble, Little Big Town, Ashnikko, and Derek Hough. Additionally Shelby has also worked closely with choreographers Al Blackstone, Mandy Moore, Marinda Davis, Brooke Pierotti, Andrew Winghart, and many more. Further highlights of her career include working as an assistant choreographer on Fox's SYTYCD, ABC's Dancing With The Stars, The CW's My Last Days, as well as being featured on NBC’s World of Dance. Shelby was also a member of the female identifying LA based company, MashUp Contemporary Dance. When she’s not jumping between the concert and commercial industries, she also teaches at various studios around North America. She's extremely grateful to be able to do what she loves and hopes to continue to share and expand her knowledge as a dancer.

Alana Jones is a Houston native Dancer and Choreographer. As a founding member of Vitacca Ballet formally known as Vitacca Dance Project under the direction of Kelly Ann Vitacca she trained under Ballet Master Phillip Broomhead while attending the High School of Performing and Visual Arts. In 2014 Ms. Jones was accepted on scholarship and trained with the American Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Thereafter, Ms. Jones was accepted on scholarship to SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. During her time at Purchase College, Ms. Jones was invited into the ballet concentration where she performed and studied works by George Balanchine, Norbert De la Cruz, Michelle Ulerich and Colby Damon. During her four years she has also trained with Ballet X, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Arts Umbrella. Alana earned her BFA and began her professional career with Visceral Dance Chicago for two seasons upon graduating in 2018. She then went on to join BODYTRAFFIC in 2021. While in BODYTRAFFIC Alana has taught repertoire and outreach to various communities. She has also performed works by notable choreographers such as Matthew Neenan, Fernando Magadan, Miceala Taylor, Joan Rodriguez, Trey Mclntyre, Juel D Lane and Richard Sigal. She has also worked at New Orleans Ballet Association to help set repertoire for Trey’s Mclntyre Project. 

Commissioned by the Whitney Museum of American Art as part of Edges of Ailey.