At Kennedy Center, Alvin Ailey falters with 'Chroma' but rebounds with 'Revelations'

Rarely does a pep rally serve as a prelude to a ballet. Yet Tuesday night, there was Robert Battle onstage at the Kennedy Center Opera House, urging a black-tie-optional crowd to make some noise. "I heard you all are loud and raucous," Battle said, after attempting to initiate a call-and-response chorus of hellos. "You may be all dressed up, but you don't have to act like it."