For the up-and-coming generation, dance history doesn’t always sound like the most exciting course. But for students at The Ailey School, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Renee Robinson is bringing enthusiasm to the class by helping her students make personal connections to the past. Robinson’s training began with classical ballet at 9 years […]
Alvin Ailey founded what would become one of the world’s most famous modern dance companies. From its earliest days, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed dances that reflected the African American cultural experience to concert dance audiences. Ailey’s iconic work Revelations continues to resonate over 60 years later. The company has performed for more […]
From 1961 to 1994, legendary photographer Jack Mitchell captured thousands of moments with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Now, this treasure trove of dance history is available to the public for viewing via the online archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The collection includes both color and black-and-white images […]
Here’s some Monday news to rock your soul: An upcoming Fox Searchlight film about the life of Alvin Ailey just got even more enticing—Barry Jenkins, the filmmaker who won an Oscar for Moonlight, has signed on as director. It feels like quite a fitting hire. Back in 2017, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater artistic director […]
What does it mean to be human? Well, many things. But if you were at the Dance Magazine Awards last week, you could argue that to be human is to dance. Speeches about the powerful humanity of our art form were backed up with performances by incredible dancers hailing from everywhere from Hubbard Street Dance […]
As you assemble your gratitude list for this Thanksgiving, stop and consider some of the works that paved the way for the diverse dance world we enjoy today. Whether they introduced a radical new style of movement, controversial subject matter or a particularly poignant message, these five works broke choreographic barriers and have withstood the […]
To celebrate Valentine’s Day in the most dance-centric way possible, we sat down with five powerhouse dance-teaching couples to talk about their love stories. What do they admire about each other? What are their couple goals and their teaching philosophies, and how do they make their relationships work, especially when they work together? Get ready […]
As a young dancer, Alvin Ailey principal Jamar Roberts learned more than just how to pick up choreography quickly from his teacher and mentor Angel Fraser-Logan at the Dance Empire of Miami. In a recent New York Times article, Roberts, says that Fraser-Logan “taught me how to be an artist—the importance of dance being a […]
In our July issue’s History: Lesson Plan, we learn about Alvin Ailey, who founded what would become one of the world’s most famous modern dance companies. From its earliest days, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed dances that reflected the African-American cultural experience to concert dance audiences. Jacqueline Green in Alvin Ailey’s Cry Check out […]
Contemporary class at The Ailey Extension. photo by Kyle Froman Win It! The Ailey Extension 5-class card In celebration of New York City Dance Week (June 16-25), The Ailey Extension is giving away a 5-class card, redeemable until the end of 2016. Don’t miss your chance to attend classes at one of the most popular […]