Birmingham’s Alvin Ailey Dance Show Gets Unexpected Curtains: BJCC Investigates Low Temperature Issues
BIRMINGHAM – An unexpected drop in temperature led to the cancellation of a widely anticipated dance event. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s performance set to go on stage at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) was called off on February 17. After a long intermission of more than 30 minutes, the disheartening announcement echoed through the concert hall’s intercom system.
In a Facebook post published post-cancellation, the dance company expressed sympathy for their disappointed fans. They confirmed that the abrupt end to the show in the first act was caused by unbearably cold temperatures in the Concert Hall. All efforts to raise the temperature proved futile, leading to delays. They highlighted that a safe temperature is vital for the dancers, which unfortunately could not be achieved that evening. To ameliorate the situation, automatic refunds will be provided to all ticket holders from the venue, which will be processed through the original payment method within a span of 8-10 business days. Reach out to BJCC Guest Services at guestservices@bjcc.org for more details.
A 72-Degree Requirement Nickel-And-Dimes The Show
Tad Snider, Executive Director at BJCC, shared that the hall temperature varied between 68 and 70 degrees that night. The dancers belong to the American Guild of Artist Union, which necessitates a temperature of 72 degrees to safeguard the dancers from potential injuries. While Snider and his team are accustomed to maintaining the building’s temperature, an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the sudden drop during the night of the event.
“We sincerely apologize and own what happened Saturday night. It should not have happened,” Snider stated firmly. His sentiments echoed the confusion and disappointment felt by the event attendees, who voiced concerns over the lack of communication during Saturday’s sudden cancellation.
Re-evaluating the Communication Mechanisms at BJCC
Clearly hit by the unfortunate turn of events, the BJCC is now re-evaluating its policies to enhance communication during such incidents. The current policy dictates that the duty of making an announcement lies with the representatives of the show. However, Snider acknowledges the need to revamp this, expressing concerns over insufficient audience information regarding the delay and eventual cancellation of the show.
Those affected by the cancellation will receive refunds from the BJCC. Purchases made via Ticket Master will be refunded automatically within 14-21 business days. For tickets purchased directly through the box office, manual processing of the refunds is currently in progress. In case the purchases were made through a third party, ticket buyers are advised to reach out to the respective point of purchase for refunds. Concerns and queries can be directed to guestservices@bjcc.org.
The BJCC calendar has more exciting events in the queue, with the Alabama Ballet set to perform Giselle from February 23-25.
