Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

teacher resource guide schooltime performance series alvin ailey american dance theater Samantha Figgins and Jeroboam Bozeman Photo by Andrew Eccles TRG-ailey.indd 1 4/3/19 2:13 PM about the about alvin performance ailey Magnetic. Electrifying. Passionate. Beautiful. Soulful. Born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas, Alvin Ailey In 1969, Ailey established a school in New York City, These are just some of the words that audience members came from quite modest beginnings. His mother was Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, now called The and critics use to describe Alvin Ailey American Dance a teenager when she gave birth to him. When Alvin Ailey School. He also formed the Alvin Ailey Theater (AAADT), a uniquely American modern dance was young, his father left. Ailey grew up poor but steeped Repertory Ensemble, now Ailey II, in 1974. Both company known for its vibrant blend of modern, ballet in the arts. Church services and a local dance hall institutions supported Ailey’s pioneering work, and other dance styles. Audience members will be treated introduced him to music and the arts. When he was 12 promoting arts in education, particularly to to a wonderful experience that will touch their hearts and years old, he moved to Los Angeles, where he excelled benefit underserved communities. inspire a greater appreciation for dance and the arts. in school as an athlete and a natural at languages. In 1987, Alvin Ailey received the Samuel H. Scripps This storied dance company had humble beginnings but He was introduced to dance through performances of American Dance Festival Award, modern dance’s a grand vision from the very start. In the 1950s, dancer the world renowned Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and most prestigious honor. And in December 1988, he and choreographer Alvin Ailey envisioned a company the Katherine Dunham Dance Company. This fired him received The Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime where African- American dancers could not only display up to pursue dance seriously. Ailey began his dance contribution to American culture through the their talents and skills, but also express their experiences career at a time when African-American dancers like performing arts—the nation’s highest official and heritage. He gathered a group of young African- him had few opportunities. He had to work hard to distinction for creative artists. American modern dancers and premiered their first forge his own path, which informed his desire to start Since his death in 1989 at the age of 58, Alvin Ailey performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in his own company. Dance Foundation has continued to carry out Ailey’s New York City. That now fabled performance forever His formal dance training began with Lester Horton, vision. In 2008, a U.S. Congressional resolution changed the perception of American dance with its whose Lester Horton Dance Theater was one of the first designated Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as expressiveness, technical prowess and influences racially-integrated dance companies in the United States. “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world.” from African-American culture. Horton soon became one of Ailey’s mentors and, when With more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers The Company’s early days were spent traveling on Horton died in 1953, Ailey became the company’s director. in the Company repertory, including 79 of Ailey’s own what Alvin Ailey called “the station wagon tours”; There, he began choreographing works of his own. ballets, the Company continues to enrich the American dancers were transported from performance to modern dance heritage and preserve the uniqueness He also made his debut on Broadway as a dancer in performance in a station wagon driven by one of of the African-American cultural experience. Ailey’s friends. From these modest beginnings, AAADT 1954 in the Truman Capote musical House of Flowers. In 2014, Alvin Ailey posthumously received the has grown to be one of the foremost modern dance He appeared in other Broadway productions, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest companies in the world. Dancers of all races and 1957 performance of the musical Jamaica, which starred civilian honor, in recognition of his contributions and backgrounds perform with the Company, which is Lena Horne and Ricardo Montalban. He also studied commitment to civil rights and dance in America. also NJPAC’s principal resident dance affiliate. with famed dancer Martha Graham and acting with Stella Adler while he was working on Broadway. All of these “His work made an important contribution to “The texture of their dancing is powerful and juicy, experiences crystalized and informed his path toward American culture,” dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov brilliant in speed and marvelous in slowness. You feel founding Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. told The New York Times. as if you’ve always known them,” hailed The New York Times in a recent review of a performance. The first performance by AAADT was in 1958, Dancers: Linda Celeste Sims and Jacqueline Green but it was Ailey’s masterwork Revelations, which Photo by: Andrew Eccles premiered in 1960, that catapulted the Company and its choreographer to stardom. Drawing on memories of his rural Texas childhood, with movement set to gospel music, spirituals and the blues, Ailey created a dance that powerfully expressed the African-American experience. Ailey called the experiences that inspired Revelations “blood memories” because he felt that they were as much a part of him as the blood running through his veins. Since its premiere, more than 23 million people in 71 countries have seen Revelations—more than any other modern dance work in history. 2 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater njpac.org/education 3 TRG-ailey.indd 2-3 4/3/19 2:13 PM in the A deeper look into Mr. Ailey spotlight and his mission What makes Alvin Ailey American Dance Part of Ailey’s mission is to provide arts in Theater different from other dance companies? education for underserved communities. In March 1958, Alvin Ailey launched his own dance Alvin Ailey said, “Dance is for everybody. I company because he didn’t see enough people believe that dance came from the people of color dancing on the concert stage at the time. and that it should always be delivered That first performance changed forever the back to the people.” The Ailey School, perception of American dance, and six decades Ailey Arts In Education & Community later, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is Programs, the Ailey Extension (“Real now the most popular and most-traveled Classes for Real People”) and outreach modern dance company conducted by Alvin Ailey American in the world—a cultural Dance Theater and Ailey II dancers community that includes represent a large-scale continuation performances, education, and of Mr. Ailey’s original vision to use the community programs. Alvin Ailey’s power of dance to enrich and signature work, Revelations, has been positively impact lives, especially seen by more people around the world those of young people. Many of the than any other modern dance. 100,000 young people who participate Photo by: Andrew Eccles Andrew by: Photo in these programs each year face Alvin Ailey’s seminal work, Revelations, serious academic, social and drew on his roots in the rural American domestic challenges that have South. Today, Alvin Ailey American been linked to an increased risk of Dance Theater continues to dropping out of school. These address to specific aspects challenges include exposure to of the African-American drugs, violence, poor nutrition and a experience in its repertoire. lack of structure or positive role The Company’s repertory models in their everyday lives. Ailey addresses aspects of the Arts in Education programs provide African-American experience a strong foundation and positive through classic works like Mr. Ailey’s influences for participants, helping enduring Revelations as well as more them to identify their own decision- making power and individual Dancers: Chalvar Monteiro and Jacqueline Green and Jacqueline Monteiro Chalvar Dancers: recent additions like Rennie Harris’ Exodus (urban unrest) or Kyle Abraham’s potential. Untitled America (the impact of the US Artists and dancers of color continue prison system on families). However, the to face challenges head-on. Company has long been embraced by audiences of all races and continues During the height of the Civil Rights Mr. Ailey’s mission to use dance as Movement, Alvin Ailey was a pioneer of creating opportunities for marginalized a means to enlighten and unify artists of color. Today, Alvin Ailey American people of all backgrounds. Dance Theater serves as a cultural In 2008, the US Congress ambassador to the world that celebrates designated the Ailey the whole of human experience with an eye Company as “a vital toward diversity. American cultural ambassador to the world” that celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. Dancer: Yannick Lebrun Photo by: Andrew Eccles 4 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater njpac.org/education 5 TRG-ailey.indd 4-5 4/3/19 2:13 PM inspired ideas in the classroom NJ Student Learning Teacher Focus Student Activity Standards Prepare your students for the performance by watching this video clip English Language Arts about the inspiration behind Revelations. youtu.be/44nqeAXLS-k NJSLSA.R4. After viewing the video clip “Why See Ailey Now?” (youtu.be/zAEHbdkgcGs), write 3 reasons why Prepare for the Discuss with your students how Alvin Ailey used dance to bring people together, and how NJSLSA.SL1. people should see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at NJPAC. Discuss your answers. performance he believed dance came from the people and should be delivered back to the people.

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