Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

One of the best modern-dance troupes on the planet — the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — performs this weekend at Playhouse Square. As it happens, the State Theatre is the only Ohio stop on the company’s current North American tour. Among the pieces being featured in the two-hour performances are Home, a new work set to gospel house music by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris; Takademe, a fiery, athletic 1999 work choreographed by the company’s artistic director Robert Battle; and Ailey’s own 1960 masterpiece, Revelations, which uses African-American spirituals, gospel, and holy blues to explore both the darkest grief and the most fervent joy. (The exact lineup differs for each performance; be sure to check the website for details.) Since 1958, the company’s mission has been promoting the African-American cultural experience while preserving and enriching the American modern dance tradition. You can get a better idea of what that means at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices range from $10 to $70. Get them by phone, online, or at the box office.