Slippery Rock University’s dance performance by Ailey II was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

According to Nora Ambrosio, a dance professor at the university, Ailey II is a world-renowned modern dance company that is part of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City.

The concert is canceled until spring 2023 at least, Ambrosio said.

“They’ll come back when COVID isn’t as much of an issue,” she said. “We have to wait and see what the company says. It depends on two things: when our theater is available and when the company is available.”

During Ailey II’s last visit to SRU, Ambrosio said audiences gave a standing ovation.

“I have never seen a Slippery Rock audience be so excited for a concert,” Ambrosio said. “For their piece called ‘Revelations’ the audience went wild ... that’s a typical thing you see at an Alvin Ailey dance concert.”

The company features dances of a contemporary style as well as hip-hop and jazz. Ambrosio said she hopes Ailey II will bring works by younger choreographers for their next performance.

“This is a company that can do it all,” Ambrosio said. “The choreography is absolutely beautiful; it’s also very accessible. It appeals to a great number of different people of different generations.”

Ambrosio said audiences on the look out for the next performance can anticipate a performance featuring diverse perspectives.

“For our audience which is mostly white, to bring a company to signify diversity and bring the Black experience to life on stage through dance is why we want them to come,” Ambrosio said. “Anything focused on diversity does really well.”