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Greenwich Library is
excited to announce a very special opportunity to experience
the power, beauty and energy of famed modern dance company
Ailey II, right in Greenwich, Connecticut. Ailey II will be
the featured performing arts program for Greenwich Library’s
2026 Opening Night Celebration on Friday, October 2, 2026,
in the Library’s Berkley Theater. The evening begins with a
7:00 p.m. performance, followed by a very special cocktail
party and a celebratory grazing dinner, catered by Marcia
Selden at 8:30 p.m. in the Library’s Reading Room. This
event always sells out, so reserving tickets now is
recommended at
www.greenwichlibrary.org/support/opening-night
“Bringing Ailey II
to Greenwich Library is exactly what Opening Night is all
about — creating an unforgettable cultural experience right
here in our community,” said Joe Williams, director of
Greenwich Library. “Greenwich Library is recognized as one
of the nation’s premier libraries and is one of the most
visited library in the state of Connecticut. This Opening
Night Celebration event helps make it possible for the
Library to continue to offer exceptional performing arts
programs that are free and accessible to the public
throughout the year.”
What traditionally
has been a biennial event, held every other year, Opening
Night Celebration is now going to be an annual event and is
the Library main “friendraiser” that specifically supports
performing arts programs. The event is co-chaired by
Shiobhan Burns, Julie McCormack and Wesley Royce, along with
the Friends of Greenwich Library.
Ailey II, under the
artistic direction of Francesca Harper, is celebrated for
pairing the spirit and legacy of Alvin Ailey with the fresh
energy of the next generation of extraordinary dancers.
Founded in 1974 as a bridge between The Ailey School and the
professional dance world, the company embodies Alvin Ailey’s
pioneering mission to nurture the next generation of
talented artists and reach audiences around the world by
making dance accessible to all. Ailey II’s performance will
bring a major New York-level cultural experience to
Greenwich, making this year’s Opening Night Celebration one
of the Library’s most anticipated events
“This is such a
special night for Greenwich Library,” said Wesley Royce,
Opening Night Celebration co-chair. “The audience attending
this special performance will enjoy an exciting and lively
evening full of dance, energy, amazing food, friends and the
feeling that they are part of something meaningful. Every
ticket helps keep the performing arts thriving at the
Library and available free of charge to the entire community
throughout the fall-to-spring season. While there is a
ticket price for Opening Night Celebration, attendees know
they are supporting the Library and important programming
for years to come.”
Funds raised from
Opening Night Celebration support Greenwich Library’s
upcoming season of performing arts programs in the Berkley
Theater, including a public Ailey II performance on October
3, and a yearlong lineup of cultural and educational
experiences.
Tickets and
sponsorship opportunities range from $250 to $10,000 and are
available at
www.greenwichlibrary.org/support/opening-night
To learn about
possible sponsorship opportunities for this event, please
contact Lisa Mandel at
lmandel@greenwichlibrary.org
About Greenwich
Library
The Greenwich
Library system consists of the Main Library and its Byram
Shubert and Cos Cob branches. The mission of Greenwich
Library is to provide exceptional resources, programs and
services that promote the joy of lifelong learning and
discovery, and to offer a welcoming place to gather and
share experiences. With 1,800 programs and events per year,
the Library seeks to serve as the cultural and intellectual
crossroads of the community. Greenwich Library’s circulation
is among the highest of public libraries in Connecticut and
has been named a five-star library by Library Journal for11
of the past 12 years for the high number of patron visits,
circulation, use of public computers and program attendance.
Greenwich Library is located at 101 West Putnam Avenue in
Greenwich. Cos Cob Library is located at 5 Sinawoy Road in
Cos Cob. Byram Shubert Library is located at 21 Mead Avenue
in Greenwich. More information is available online at
www.greenwichlibrary.org or by calling 203-622-7900.
About Ailey II
Ailey II, the second
company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, is
universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of
the country’s best early-career dance talent with the
passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and
emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974 as a bridge between
The Ailey School and the professional dance world, Ailey II
embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an
extended cultural community that provides dance
performances, training, and community programs for all
people. Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular
dance companies in the country under the leadership of
Sylvia Waters from 1974–2012, combining a rigorous touring
schedule with extensive community outreach programs. With
Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, Ailey II is
forging a new path for modern dance—one that’s inclusive,
experimental, and transformative.
For more information, visit
www.ailey.org/aileyii |