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Alvin Aileys New Ballet Pays Tribute to Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller Prepares for Australian Tour
On January 23, 2025, the official YouTube channel of the late R&B superstar Luther Vandross released a fresh video for his 1981 single “A House Is Not a Home.” The clip stitches archival footage with contemporary dancers, offering a tantalizing glimpse of a larger project: Power of Love, a ballet that will open the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2026‑27 season.
Choreographer Jamar Roberts will bring the piece to life at New York City Center on December 2, 2026. The production is the result of a partnership between the Ailey company, the Luther Vandross Estate, and Primary Wave Music. Described as a celebration of Vandross’s romantic, funk‑inspired catalog translated into movement, the ballet will run for about 40 minutes and will be followed by a public run starting December 4, 2026.
The timing of the premiere is intentional. It falls just before what would have been Vandross’s 75th birthday, and the estate and Primary Wave announced the collaboration on July 7, 2026. They said the new work would introduce the late R&B legend’s music to a fresh audience.
Marcus Miller, who produced and co‑wrote many of Vandross’s hits, recently reflected on the partnership in an interview with Noise11. Miller recalled that the two had worked together for eight or nine years before the creation of “Power of Love/Love Power.” He described the studio sessions as instinctive, with both artists able to move quickly.
According to Miller, Vandross had finished an album and needed an additional track. He asked Miller to produce something in a few hours. Miller supplied a musical backing, and Vandross began singing immediately, adding the line “You got to believe in love.” Vandross then suggested incorporating a song he had performed in the 1960s, “Love Power.” The combination became the single that appears on Vandross’s 1985 album Power of Love.
Miller also worked with Vandross on material for Aretha Franklin, including the 1982 title track of Franklin’s comeback album Jump to It. The collaboration began after Vandross’s own breakthrough with Never Too Much attracted the attention of producer Clive Davis, who asked Vandross to produce for Franklin.
In addition to the dance tribute, Miller is slated to perform a solo tour of Australia in April 2027. The itinerary includes Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with a set list that features songs from his collaborations with Miles Davis as well as his own repertoire.
The Australian dates are: • April 13 – Riverside Theatre, Perth • April 15 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane • April 16 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney • April 17 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne • April 18 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Tickets are being sold through Gerrard Allman Events.
The convergence of the ballet and Miller’s tour underscores Vandross’s enduring influence across genres. The dance piece brings his R&B catalog into the modern dance arena, while Miller’s tour revisits the creative partnership that produced some of the singer’s most enduring songs.
At present, the ballet’s world premiere is scheduled for December 2026, and Miller’s Australian tour will begin in April 2027. No further dates or releases have been announced beyond those listed.
The collaboration highlights the continued relevance of Vandross’s catalog in contemporary performance art and the ongoing career of Marcus Miller, who remains active in both jazz and pop contexts.
Choreographer Jamar Roberts will bring the piece to life at New York City Center on December 2, 2026. The production is the result of a partnership between the Ailey company, the Luther Vandross Estate, and Primary Wave Music. Described as a celebration of Vandross’s romantic, funk‑inspired catalog translated into movement, the ballet will run for about 40 minutes and will be followed by a public run starting December 4, 2026.
The timing of the premiere is intentional. It falls just before what would have been Vandross’s 75th birthday, and the estate and Primary Wave announced the collaboration on July 7, 2026. They said the new work would introduce the late R&B legend’s music to a fresh audience.
Marcus Miller, who produced and co‑wrote many of Vandross’s hits, recently reflected on the partnership in an interview with Noise11. Miller recalled that the two had worked together for eight or nine years before the creation of “Power of Love/Love Power.” He described the studio sessions as instinctive, with both artists able to move quickly.
According to Miller, Vandross had finished an album and needed an additional track. He asked Miller to produce something in a few hours. Miller supplied a musical backing, and Vandross began singing immediately, adding the line “You got to believe in love.” Vandross then suggested incorporating a song he had performed in the 1960s, “Love Power.” The combination became the single that appears on Vandross’s 1985 album Power of Love.
Miller also worked with Vandross on material for Aretha Franklin, including the 1982 title track of Franklin’s comeback album Jump to It. The collaboration began after Vandross’s own breakthrough with Never Too Much attracted the attention of producer Clive Davis, who asked Vandross to produce for Franklin.
In addition to the dance tribute, Miller is slated to perform a solo tour of Australia in April 2027. The itinerary includes Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with a set list that features songs from his collaborations with Miles Davis as well as his own repertoire.
The Australian dates are: • April 13 – Riverside Theatre, Perth • April 15 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane • April 16 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney • April 17 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne • April 18 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Tickets are being sold through Gerrard Allman Events.
The convergence of the ballet and Miller’s tour underscores Vandross’s enduring influence across genres. The dance piece brings his R&B catalog into the modern dance arena, while Miller’s tour revisits the creative partnership that produced some of the singer’s most enduring songs.
At present, the ballet’s world premiere is scheduled for December 2026, and Miller’s Australian tour will begin in April 2027. No further dates or releases have been announced beyond those listed.
The collaboration highlights the continued relevance of Vandross’s catalog in contemporary performance art and the ongoing career of Marcus Miller, who remains active in both jazz and pop contexts.
