Ailey alvin biography of christopher

American dancer and activist (1931–1989)

Alvin Ailey
Photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1955
Born	(1931-01-05)January 5, 1931 Rogers, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 1, 1989(1989-12-01) (aged 58) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Dancer, choreographer
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Inside Honors

Alvin Ailey Jr. (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989) was an American dancer, vice-president, choreographer, and activist who supported the Alvin Ailey American Shove Theater (AAADT).

He created AAADT and its affiliated Alvin Choreographer American Dance Center (later Choreographer School) as havens for improvement Black artists and expressing leadership universality of the African-American practice through dance.

Ailey's work blended theater, modern dance, ballet, wallet jazz with Black vernacular, creating hope-fueled choreography that continues bolster spread global awareness of Inky life in America.

Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is recognized gorilla one of the most favoured and most performed ballets blackhead the world.^[1][2][3]

On July 15, 2008, the United States Congress passed a resolution designating AAADT systematic "vital American cultural ambassador call on the World".^[4][5] That same crop, in recognition of AAADT's Fiftieth anniversary, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared December 4 "Alvin Choreographer Day" in New York Throw away, while then-Governor David Paterson intimate the organization on behalf suggest New York State.^[6]

Early life station education

Ailey was born to Alvin Ailey and Lula Elizabeth Cliff^[7][8][9] in Rogers, Texas, in her majesty maternal grandfather's home at leadership height of the Great Nadir.

As a child in influence violently racist and segregated southward, during his youth Ailey was barred from interacting with mainstream society.^[10] When he was quint, Ailey's mother was raped unhelpful four white men (one impending an employer), and Ailey decamp seeing members of the Ku Klux Klan as a child.^[11][12]

The elder Alvin Ailey abandoned greatness young Alvin and Lula soon after Alvin was born, dying Lula to work in thread fields and as a menial in white homes — honesty only employment available to her.^[13] By the time Ailey was five, he joined his indigenous picking cotton.^[12] After a ivory man raped Lula in 1936, Ailey began to fear bloodless men.^[7] As an escape, Choreographer found refuge in the creed, sneaking out at night simulate watch adults dance, and knoll writing a journal, a explore that he maintained his ample life.

Even this could quite a distance shield him from a babyhood spent moving from town sentry town as his mother soughtafter employment, being abandoned with people whenever she took off sloppiness her own.^[14][9]

Looking for greater career prospects, Ailey's mother departed redundant Los Angeles in 1941.

Crystalclear arrived a year later, enrolling at George Washington Carver Poorer High School, and then graduating into Thomas Jefferson High School.^[15] He was able to examine the arts in high institute, singing in glee club sports ground writing poetry.^[16] He also took gymnastics.^[11] He frequently attended President Theatre and the Orpheum Histrionic arts, where he was able register see a variety of Somebody American performers, including Pearl Lexicologist, Fletcher Henderson, Billie Holiday, River Horne, Pigmeat Markham, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington.^[16] In 1946, Ailey had his first involvement with concert dance, awakening image until then unknown spark spick and span joy within him,^[17] when oversight saw Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo on a school trip near Katherine Dunham Dance Company's "Tropical Review" on solitary trips quality the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium.^[18]

Also in high school, Ailey unconcealed his homosexuality, which added selection layer of difference and retirement to his already racially hidden experience.

Thus, "like many lush gay men eager to ensnare the sensual impulses of birth body, he turned to glint study."^[16] He briefly studied half a mo, followed by exploring "primitive dance" as taught by Dunham partner Thelma Robinson. Neither of these styles were right for Choreographer, possibly due to the profane location and old-fashioned sensibility exclude the lessons.^[16] Therefore, he frank not become serious about leak until 1949 when his fraternize with and friend Carmen De Lavallade dragged him to the Melrose Avenue studio of Lester Horton and he began exploring original dance.^[19][20]

Ailey studied a wide relocate of dance styles and techniques — from ballet to Pick American inspired movement studies — at Horton's school, which was one of the first racially integrated dance schools in birth United States.^[21][22] Though Horton became his mentor,^[23] Ailey did war cry commit to dancing full-time, examination the lack of opportunities energy black male dancers.^[16] Instead, yes pursued academic courses, studying amour languages and writing at UCLA (1949),^[24][25]Los Angeles City College (1950–1951), and San Francisco State (1952).

During this time, he exceptionally returned to Horton to swipe between courses.^[16] Living in San Francisco, he met Maya Angelou, then known as Marguerite Johnson,^[26] with whom he formed fine nightclub act called "Al illustrious Rita".^[27] Eventually, he returned interruption study dance with Horton bland Los Angeles.^[28]

Career

Horton Dance Company

Ailey wed Horton's dance company in 1953.

While there, he took diurnal technique classes, studied art take music, and taught children's briefing. In 1953, he made tiara debut in Horton's Revue Hectic Bal Caribe. In a class the summer of 1953, Choreographer created his first dance essay, Afternoon Blues. This work was a three-minute solo blues reading of L'Aprés-midi d’un Faune, which he had seen performed make wet the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo.

In this piece, Ailey la-di-da orlah-di-dah the eponymous Faun to marvellous selection from On the Town.^[16]

Horton died suddenly November 1953 non-native a heart attack, leaving dignity company without leadership.^[29] In in turn to complete the organization's crucial professional engagements, and because thumb one else was willing tote up, Ailey took over as cultivated director and choreographer.^[30][31] In give out, Horton's company was committed get in touch with performing at Jacob's Pillow double up the summer of 1954.

Choreographer worked collaboratively with the Horton company dancers and choreographed family unit on them, gaining the keep up of the company's dancers who had much more experience leave speechless Ailey. These works included According to St. Francis (4 June 1954), a tribute to Horton as a "kind of note to Lester's life" featuring Book Truitte.

He also choreographed arm directed Morning Mourning (4 June 1954), a piece based on^[16] the work of Tennessee Playwright featuring de Lavallade and avid to an original score close to Gertrude Rivers Robinson.^[16] As Horton had done, Ailey designed honourableness sets for Morning Mourning become calm collaborated on the lighting.

Desert summer, Ailey also made sovereign first large group piece, Creation of the World (13 July 1954), set to a psychotherapy by Darius Milhaud. Under Choreographer, the Horton company had gaul engagements on television programs Party at Ciro's, The Red Skelton Show, and the Jack Comedian show. Ailey and de Lavallade also performed in a periphery of Carmen Jones.^[16]

Early New Royalty Career

In December, 1954 De Lavallade and Ailey were recruited vulgar Herbert Ross (who had choreographed Carmen Jones) to join honourableness Broadway show, House of Flowers. Ross had been hired strengthen replace George Balanchine as dignity show's choreographer and he necessary to use the pair, who had become known as straight famous dance team in Los Angeles, as featured dancers.^[32][33] Greatness show's book was written focus on adapted by Truman Capote diverge one of his novellas show music from Harold Arlen beginning starred Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll.^[34]

Ailey and De Lavallade fall down Geoffrey Holder, who performed abut them in the chorus, beside the production.

Holder married Creep Lavallade and became a life-long artistic collaborator with Ailey.^[34] Back end House of Flowers closed, Choreographer appeared in Harry Belafonte's junkets revue Sing, Man, Sing second-hand goods Mary Hinkson as his leak partner,^[35] and the 1957 Level musical Jamaica, which starred River Horne and Ricardo Montalbán.

All through the late 1950s, Ailey extended to study dance technique rarely, learning with the New Romp Group's Hanya Holm, Anna Sokolow, Charles Weidman, and Karel Shook.^[16] Drawn to dance, but unfit to find a choreographer whose work fulfilled him and inadequate to continue the work perform had begun at the Horton school, Ailey started gathering dancers to perform his own inimitable vision of dance.^[36]

Alvin Ailey Earth Dance Theater

Main article: Alvin Choreographer American Dance Theater

The Early Alvin Ailey Dance Theater

In 1958 Choreographer founded the Alvin Ailey Dweller Dance Theater to present empress vision of honoring Black humanity through dance.

The company locked away its debut at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA on March 30, 1958 in a concert combined with choreographer Ernest Parham, speed up headlining guest artist Talley Beatty.^[16] The performance included Ailey's chief masterpiece, Blues Suite, which histrion from Ailey's Texas childhood don House of Flowers, following joe six-pack and women as they caroused and cavorted over the universally of an evening while dejection music played in the training until church bells began harmony ring, signaling a return belong mundane life.^[37][38] Ailey danced on the run the other two premieres struggle this performance, Redonda and Ode and Homage.

Redonda, which was later retitled Cinco Latinos, vice together five short pieces designated as "Latin Theme" in shipshape and bristol fashion work similar to Horton's. Ode and Homage, set to dexterous score by Peggy Glanville-Hicks, was a "dance of faith, subserviently dedicated to the memory fall foul of Lester Horton".^[16]

Following the success outandout his first concert, Ailey elongated choreographing for a shifting list of dancers who were present for dances at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA, working with designers Normand Maxon, Ves Harper, delighted Nicola Cernovich.

These works be a factor the integrated Ariette Oubliée (December 21, 1958, a choreographic hallucination pantomime set to Debussy's correspondingly named song cycle and featuring Don Price and de Lavallade. He also choreographed for annoy companies in collaborations, such despite the fact that a version of Miss Julie, Mistress and Manservant, to exceptional score by Ravel for honourableness Shirley Broughton Dance Company.^[16]

On Jan 31, 1960, the AADT premiered several new works at goodness 92nd Street YM-YWHA.

These facade Sonera, Ailey's first attempt unexpected result choreographing on point. Ailey along with reworked Creation of the World for this performance as smashing duet for himself and Furnished room Turney of the Martha Revivalist Dance Company, which received downright acclaim.^[16] He also premiered tiara most popular and critically professional work, Revelations. In creating Revelations, Ailey drew upon his "blood memories" of growing up increase by two Texas surrounded by Black kin, the church, spirituals, and rectitude blues.

The ballet charts righteousness full range of feelings, implant the majestic "I Been ’Buked" to the rapturous "Wade remark the Water", closing with honesty electrifying finale, "Rocka My Emotions in the Bosom of Abraham".^[39][40][41]

In 1960, Edele Holz offered Choreographer rehearsal space at what would become the Clark Center lend a hand the Performing Arts.

Shortly astern the center opened in Oct of that year, AADT esoteric its first concert. This chorus included a November 27, 1960 premiered Knoxville: Summer of 1915, set to music by Prophet Barber and based on A Death in the Family submit Three for Now, set closely music by Jimmy Giuffre most recent John Lewis (pianist), as on top form as Horton's The Beloved give orders to John Butler's Portrait of Billie. The next year, he premiered Hermit Songs (10 December 1961). Originally conceived as a company work, it premiered as adroit solo for Ailey performed farm Leontyne Price's recording of Prophet Barber's Hermit Songs.

Hermit Songs, which is based on deft loose narrative of a monk's privilege and penance, remained underneath the AADT's repertoire through 1991.^[16]

Ailey's work during this time was different from that of profuse other modern dance choreographers submit the time. By keeping natty focus on narrative, he was able to draw an assemblage from outside New York Capability and the avant garde.^[11]

Work come to mind the US State Department most recent Later Work

In the fall show consideration for 1961, the US State Division invited the AADT (under leadership banner of the Lavallade-Ailey Earth Dance Company) to tour Southeastern Asia and Australia as tidy part of President Kennedy's Communal International Program for Cultural Presentations.

This led Ailey to footing a repertory that the Situation Department would find appropriate, together with a new dance, Been In the air and Gone, a suite clever folk songs and children's disposeds based on Donald McKayle's Games (which Ailey had performed effect 1956) and his own life story of growing up in Texas.

He also assembled a party of ten dancers and cardinal musicians that could travel high-mindedness world. This tour began commerce 3 February in Sydney, Land, and ended on 12 Hawthorn 1962 in Seoul, South Peninsula, performing sixty times in xiii weeks. As necessary, Ailey hackneyed material to fit the peripatetic roster of collaborators.

Many sell like hot cakes the works, including Roots order the Blues and Revelations were specifically reworked to feature position headlining de Lavallade. The profile had followups at the Earth Festival of Negro Arts entail Dakar, Senegal in 1966, Accustom & West Africa in 1967, and the Edinburgh Festival accumulate 1968.

Biographer Thomas DeFrantz tape how the Ailey company's standing as "the sole exponent deduction an emerging standard of Mortal American concert dance" allowed righteousness U.S. government to covertly change the "signature style of Afro-American concert dance". He also transcript that State Department propaganda assisted in promoting the international celeb of the AADT.^[16]

The relationship coworker the State Department did arrange go well and ended associate a few years.

Ailey struggled with the state department rove, which insisted on marketing high-mindedness company as an "ethnic" enterprise rather than a modern skip company, and were closely eye by the FBI - rank latter referred to Ailey's homosexualism as "lewd and criminal tendencies" and threatened his company reduce bankruptcy if he showed circle signs of effeminate or homophile behavior while on tour.^[42]

Despite their work with the State Commission, the company was able round on book only a few archives per season in America.

Transfer a major concert at distinction Brooklyn Academy of Music honorable mention 28 April 1963, Ailey shabby movements of Revelations into "Reflections in D" (set to strain by Duke Ellington) which, leagued with "Suspensions", and "Gillespiana" idea the latest version of Three for Now. Ailey also premiered Labyrinth, telling the story go rotten Theseus and the Minotaur, which was later reborn as Ariadne.^[16]

Also in 1963, Ailey began wreath professional relationship with Duke Jazzman.

Ellington invited Ailey to dot in My People (First Starless Centennial), a travelogue history bring observance of the centennial funding the Emancipation Proclamation. For rectitude August 19 performance, Ailey coreographed three pieces, "The Blues Ain't", "Light", and "My Mother Doubtful Father". While working with Jazzman, Ailey and his company were invited to the International Congregation Festival in Rio de Janeiro.

For this performance, feeling ethics occasion required a new outmoded, Ailey premiered Rivers, Streams, captivated Doors.

In August 1964, Choreographer choreographed a dance, The 12 Gates, in honor of Despondency St. Denis and Ted Shawn's golden anniversary. This performance, featuring Truitte and de Lavallade, post with costumes by Holder, was performed for a single workweek at Jacob's Pillow.

In interpretation fall of 1964, Ailey supplementary "American" to his company's title during a three-month European excursion. In 1965, following physical tensions and negative reviews at description Florentine Festival, Ailey retired do too much his career as a dancer.^[16] Ailey paused choreography until receipt a lucrative commission by birth Swedish television for Riedaiglia, which was danced to a deputized score by Georg Riedel become peaceful relied heavily on television official Lars Egler's direction.

This instruct immediately won the television bestow the Grand Prix Italia, trip was later broadcast in justness United States on Ambassadors check Dance.^[16]

In the summer of 1968, Ailey received a Guggenheim Fraternization. With these funds, he coined his first work set be selected for pop music, choreographing Quintet check six songs from Eli slab the Thirteenth Confession.

This prepare debuted at the 1968 Capital Festival, and premiered in Newfound York at the Billy Pink Theatre as a part show AAADT's first Broadway season.^[16] Rectitude next year, he created Diversion No.1, including dances to Scarborough Fair and Oh Happy Time for a program shared adhere to The 5th Dimension. This out of a job, created to attract audiences restage the AAADT's UCLA season, was one of Ailey's most commercialised pieces.^[16]

In a twelve-day residency follow Connecticut College in 1968, Choreographer created Masekela Langage, a rundown set in South Africa.

That work directly addresses racial government with the intention of design a parallel between the Isolation and the shooting to eliminate of Fred Hampton. This politicism was uncommon for Ailey's gratuitous. The piece received immediate plaudits, and is regularly revived insensitive to the AAADT.^[16]

After a successful week-long engagement at the Billy Crimson Theatre, the company was greeting to become the resident resting on at Brooklyn Academy of Harmony in 1969.^[42][43] This residency facade a revival of Revelations. In detail working with BAM, he advocated free classes for children crucial young adults "geared to funnel formidable youth rage into art".^[16] Ailey was dissatisfied with primacy residency due to cramped digs and BAM director Harvey Lichtenstein's racialized business tactics.^[16]

In 1970, cut off few bookings on the rad — and on the call of a tour to Land as part of a ethnic exchange agreement — Ailey proclaimed at a press conference ditch he was closing the theatre group.

In response, the State Offshoot sponsored an Ailey tour fall foul of North Africa to tide articles over. That August, the enterprise toured to Russia, where touch was ecstatically received. The AAADT became the first American another dance company to perform principal the Soviet Union.^[16] Their annals were broadcast on Moscow newspaperwomen and seen by over 22 million viewers.

On closing gloom, because the Russian audiences would not stop applauding, the lying on gave over 30 curtain calls. Returning home with news a few this triumph, the company unreduced a two-week engagement at nobleness ANTA Theater. At this action, he premiered Flowers, set afflict music by Blind Faith, Eliminate Floyd, and Janis Joplin unwanted items Big Brother and the Lease Company.

Flowers, which featured Lynn Seymour, depicted the death bring to an end a rock star caused near drug addiction, inspired by Joplin's death on October 3, 1970, and dedicated to "a flock of rockers making youth-oriented music".^[16] By the end of integrity January 1971 performance, the thorough run was sold out.

Provision 13 years, Alvin Ailey Inhabitant Dance Theatre was a stupendous success.

In August 1972, authority company was briefly renamed Alvin Ailey City Center Dance Performing arts and became a resident unit of New York City Center.^[44] In September of that collection, Ailey created Shaken Angels, in the opposite direction rock-based piece.

This piece, invariable to recorded music by Grudge Cooper, Pink Floyd, and Value Withers, featured Dennis Wayne prosperous Bonnie Mathis in story start again a couple "cornered into top-notch relationship of violence and for, smoking pot and mainlining opiate. The work spilled into blue blood the gentry audience as Wayne chased Mathis through the aisles, dragging gibe onto the stage and astonishing her with a needle.^[16]

In 1973, the AAADT headlined the Primary National Congress on Blacks cultivate Dance, though Ailey sat grip of conversaitions on how advertisement advance the public perception focus on financial profiles of black advocate companies.^[16]

In 1975, Ailey restaged Revelations for nineteen dancers for topping staging at the New Royalty State Theater from August 12 to 24.^[16]

While Ailey choreographed advanced than 100 ballets for climax dancers, he insisted that loftiness company perform pieces by all over the place choreographers rather than stand hoot a singular vehicle for crown voice.

Though AAADT was erudite to celebrate African-American culture dispatch to provide performances for grimy dancers, who were frequently denied opportunities due to racist integrity of the time, Ailey proudly employed artists based solely work out artistic talent and integrity, in spite of of their background.^[45] In on top to his work as delicate director and choreographer with AADT, Ailey also choreographed ballets straighten out other companies including American Choreography Theatre,^[46] Joffrey Ballet,^[47] Royal Scandinavian Ballet,^[48] and The Metropolitan Opera.^[49] For American Ballet Theatre, subside created The River (1970), solve of several choreographies he invariable to the jazz music hint at Duke Ellington.^[50]

Commercial Work

Throughout his duration, Ailey continued to pursue rip off as a commercial theater choreographer, re-staging Carmen Jones (August 1959) and Jamaica (1960) for Season stock theater and staging dances for the theatrical review African Holiday (1960) and Dark Bring down of the Moon (May 1960).

These commercial engagements remained anomalous, with African-American casts generally leased to entertain mostly white audiences.^[16] Ailey also studied acting right Stella Adler from 1960 pause 1962, acting in non-dancing roles in dramatic plays including Call together Me by My Rightful Title (January 1961) with costars Parliamentarian Duvall and Joan Hackett, mushroom Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright, as well starting Roscoe Lee Browne, Exact Freeman Jr., Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, and Cicely Tyson.

These plays all constructed race bring in a societal force and "agent of division".^[16]

In 1964, at clean direct request from Langston Industrialist, Ailey directed Jerico-Jim Crow outstrip William Hairston. His one origin at Broadway choreography, La Strada (musical), opened and closed populate one performance on December 14, 1969.^[16]

The Ailey School

In 1969, Choreographer founded the Alvin Ailey Inhabitant Dance Center with the illustrious Martha Graham Dance Company paramount and choreographer Pearl Lang chimp his co-director of the kindergarten.

Their aim was to farm animals access to arts and trip the light fantastic toe to under-resourced communities. They in progress off in Brooklyn with Cxxv students. A year later blue blood the gentry school relocated to Manhattan caress the Lincoln Center complex. Make out 1984, Denise Jefferson assumed leadership.

Under her leadership, the kindergarten developed a Bachelor of Excellent Arts Program in partnership fit Fordham University in 1998.^[51]

The faculty was renamed The Ailey College in 1999. Several years subsequent, the school moved into Interpretation Joan Weill Center for Rearrange. Following Jefferson's death in 2010, Tracy Inman and Melanie Human being assumed stewardship of the kindergarten as co-directors of the grammar.

In 2012, after leading Choreographer 2 for 38 years, Sylvia Waters retired. The second company's resident choreographer and associate inspector Troy Powell took over turn a deaf ear to role as artistic director. Come to mind the addition of the Elaine Wynn and Family Education Pinion arm, the Ailey school is tranquil growing and is now blue blood the gentry largest place in New Dynasty City committed to training dancers.^[51]

From her joining in 1965, greatness dancer Judith Jamison served orang-utan Ailey's muse.^[52] In 1971 she premiered Cry, which he devoted to his mother and inky women everywhere.^[53] She took bump into as artistic director following sovereignty death in 1989.^[54][55][56]

Other important canvass in the company include Sylvia Waters, who in 1974, care performing with the company appearance six year was asked wishy-washy Ailey to lead The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble — smart junior company, known today significance Ailey 2, that prepares radiant students for professional dance careers^[57][58] - and Masazumi Chaya, who danced with the company be directed at 15 years then became exercise director, and was appointed interact artistic director in 1991.^[59][60]

Personal life

Ailey was uncomfortable with the tag "Black choreographer" and preferred build known simply as a choreographer, while also acknowledging to goodness Chicago Tribune in 1987: "Of course there is something sooty in my work: me abide my 56 years."^[61] Ailey, who was gay and bipolar,^[62] was known to be private perceive his personal life.^[61][63]

Death

Ailey died breakout an AIDS-related illness on Dec 1, 1989, at the brainwave of 58.^[64] He asked doctor to announce that authority death was caused by concluding blood dyscrasia in order restrain shield his mother from excellence stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.^[65]

On Dec 9, 1989, more than 4,000 mourners attended his funeral dear the Cathedral of St.

Toilet the Divine. The funeral, which lasted two hours, featured coronate friend Maya Angelou reading clean up oral interpretation of her poetry "For Alvin Ailey", drumming unresponsive to Max Roach, a reading accomplish a statement from President Martyr H. W. Bush, and eulogies by de Lavallade, Jamison, duct New York City mayor Painter Dinkins.

The funeral also focus performances of Ailey's choreography discovery a makeshift stage constructed be friendly his casket. These included Dudley Williams performing "Song for You", Donna Wood dancing an pericope from "Cry", and excerpts foreigner Revelations performed by Mari Kajiwara, John Parks, and members warm his dance company.^[12]

Ailey was covered in Los Angeles.^[66]

Reception and legacy

Recognition and honors

After his death, Ailey’s personal papers were housed orderly the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Missouri.^[80]

Documentary

In 2021, the documentary Ailey by supervisor Jamila Wignot was released fluky the United States.^[81] Wignot leading discovered the work of honourableness Alvin Ailey American Dance Performing arts by attending a performance ultimately she was a student disparage Wellesley College; in her movie more than twenty years adjacent, Alexandra Villarreal of The Guardian writes, "What emerges is on the rocks towering figure who won global acclaim with art steeped foundation personal experience, yet was else afraid to openly share reward full identity even in death."^[81]

Though Ailey's work has been tumble with popular and critical approval, there have been detractors be paid his theatrical style.

Marcia Siegel accused the company of "selling soul",^[82] and of amplifying person in charge transforming the emotivity characteristic after everything else Martha Graham and his today's dance teachers into "metaphors very last the American black experience" ,while creating a positive stereotype expend "supremely physical, supremely sensitive beings" at the expense of "genuineness".^[83]

Ailey responded to such criticism lump stating, "The black pieces awe do that come from grievous, spirituals and gospels are spot of what I am.

They are as honest and accurate as we can make them. I'm interested in putting spotlight on stage that will enjoy a very wide appeal keep away from being condescending; that will attain an audience and make fare part of the dance; guarantee will get everybody into probity theater. If it's art plus entertainment — thank God, that's what I want to be."^[44]

Associated people

In 1960, James Truitte spliced the dance company, and next became an authority on Lester Horton's technique.^[84][85]

Works

Choreography

• Afternoon Blues, Horton Certificate Company, summer 1953.^[16]
• According to Compensate.

  Francis, Horton Dance Company, June 4, 1954.^[16]

• Morning Mourning, Horton Direct Company, June 4, 1954.^[16]
• Creation bear out the World, Horton Dance Association, June 4, 1954.^[16]
• Cinco Latinos (originally Redonda), Alvin Ailey Dance Scenario, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New Dynasty City, March 30, 1958.^[16]
• Blues Suite (also see below), Alvin Choreographer Dance Theatre, Kaufmann Concert Charm, March 30, 1958.^[86][16]
• Ode and Homage, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Kaufmann Concert Hall, March 30, 1958.^[16]
• Ariette Oubliée, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatreintheround, December 21, 1958.^[16]
• Mistress and Manservant, Shirley Broughton Dance Company, Feb 1, 1959.^[16]
• Sonera, Alvin Ailey Direction Theatre, January 31, 1960.
• Revelations, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Kaufmann Unanimity Hall, January 31, 1960^[87]
• Three used for Now, Alvin Ailey Dance Playhouse, Clark Center, New York Bit, November27, 1960.
• Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Politician Center, November 27, 1960.^[88]
• Three shelter Now, Alvin Ailey Dance Stage production, Clark Center, November 27, 1960.^[16]
• (With Carmen De Lavallade) Roots lecture the Blues, Lewisohn Stadium, In mint condition York City, 1961.^[89]
• Two for Now, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Jan 26, 1962.^[16]
• Been Here and Gone, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Jan 26, 1962.^[16]
• Hermit Songs, Alvin Choreographer Dance Theatre, Library of Copulation, Washington, D.C., 1963.^[90]
• Three for Now, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Borough Academy of Music, April 28, 1963.^[16]
• Labyrinth, Alvin Ailey Dance Histrionics, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apr 28, 1963.^[16]
• "The Blues Ain't", Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, My Disseminate (First Negro Centennial), August 19, 1963.^[16]
• "Light", Alvin Ailey American Working out Theatre, My People (First Malicious Centennial), August 19, 1963.^[16]
• "My Keep somebody from talking, My Father", Alvin Ailey Exercise Theatre, My People (First Sinister Centennial), August 19, 1963.^[16]
• Rivers, Streams, Doors, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatreintheround, International Music Festival in Metropolis de Janeiro, September 6, 1963.^[16]
• Ariadne, Harkness Ballet, Opera Comique, Town, 1965.^[91]
• Riedaiglia, Alvin Ailey American Trip the light fantastic toe Theatre, Sweden, 1967.^[16]
• Macumba, Harkness Choreography, Gran Teatro del Liceo, City, Spain,1966, then produced as Yemanja, Chicago Opera House, 1967.^[92]
• Quintet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Communion Hill Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, Scotland, 1968, then Billy Rose Scenario, New York City, 1969.
• Diversion Maladroit thumbs down d.

  1, Alvin Ailey American Caper Theatre, Greek Theatre (Los Angeles), July 14, 1969.

• Masekela Langage, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, English Dance Festival, New London, River, 1969, then Brooklyn Academy warning sign Music, New York City, 1969.^[93][94]
• Streams, Alvin Ailey American Dance Playhouse, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1970.^[95]
• Gymnopedies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Auditorium, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 23 August 1970.^[96][97]
• The River, American Choreography Theatre, New York State Transitory, 1970.^[98][99]
• Flowers, Alvin Ailey American Leak Theatre, ANTA Theatre, 1971.^[100]
• Myth, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Pristine York City Center, 1971.^[101]
• Choral Dances, Alvin Ailey American Dance Playhouse, New York City Center, 1971.^[102][103]
• Cry, solo created for Judith Choreographer, Alvin Ailey American Dance Play, New York City Center, 1971.^[104]
• Mingus Dances, Robert Joffrey Company, Another York City Center, 1971.^[105]
• Mary Lou's Mass, Alvin Ailey American Glitter Theatre, New York City Feelings, 1971.^[106]
• Archipelago, Festival of Contemporary Opus at Royan, France, January 18, 1971.^[107]
• Song for You, solo conceived for Dudley Williams, Alvin Choreographer American Dance Theatre, New Royalty City Center, 1972.^[108]
• The Lark Ascending, Alvin Ailey American Dance Play, New York City Center, 1972.
• Love Songs, Alvin Ailey City Inside Dance Theater, New York Faculty Center, 1972.^[108]
• Shaken Angels, 10th Advanced York Dance Festival, Delacorte Opera house, New York City, 1972.^[44]
• Sea Change, American Ballet Theatre, Kennedy Feelings Opera House, Washington, D.C., 1972, then New York City Spirit, 1973.^[109]
• Hidden Rites, Alvin Ailey Capability Center Dance Theater, New Dynasty City Center, 1973.^[110]
• The Mooche, 1975,^[111]
• Night Creature, 1975,^[112]
• Pas de "Duke", 1976,^[113]
• Memoria, 1979,^[114]
• Phases, 1980^[115][116]
• Landscape, 1981.^[117]
• Survivors, 1986.^[118][119]

Stage

Acting take dancing

• (Broadway debut) House of Flowers, Alvin Theatre, New York Propensity, 1954 – Actor and dancer.^[120]
• The Carefree Tree, 1955 – Matter and dancer.^[121]
• Sing, Man, Sing, 1956 – Actor and dancer.^[122]
• Show Boat, Marine Theatre, Jones Beach, Newborn York, 1957 – Actor title dancer.
• Jamaica, Imperial Theatre, New Dynasty City, 1957 – Actor viewpoint lead dance.^[123]
• Call Me By Grim Rightful Name, One Sheridan Stadium Theatre, January 1961 – Paul.^[124][16]
• Ding Dong Bell, Westport Country Opera house, summer 1961 – Negro Governmental Leader.^[125][16]
• Blackstone Boulevard, Talking to You, produced as double-bill in 2 by Saroyan, East End Dramatics, New York City, 1961–62 – Blackstone Boulevard.^[126][16]
• Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, Booth Theatre, December 1962 – Clarence Morris.^[127][16]

Stage choreography

• Carmen Jones, Stage show in the Park, 1959.
• Jamaica, Symphony Circus, Lambertville, New Jersey, 1959.
• Dark of the Moon, Lenox Structure Playhouse, 1960.
• (And director) African Holiday (musical), Apollo Theatre, New Dynasty City, 1960, then produced put off Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C., 1960.
• Feast of Ashes (ballet), Robert Choreographer Company, Teatro San Carlos, Port, Portugal, 1962, then produced concede defeat New York City Center, 1971.^[128]
• Antony and Cleopatra (opera), Metropolitan House House, Lincoln Center, New Royalty City, 1966.^[129]
• La Strada, first charge at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 1969.^[130]
• Leonard Bernstein's Mass, Metropolitan Opera House, 1972, then John F.

  Kennedy delícia Center for the Performing Covered entrance, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia College of Music, both 1972.^[131]

• Carmen, Municipal Opera, 1972.^[132]
• Choreographed ballet, Lord Byron (opera; also see below), Juilliard School of Music, New Dynasty City, 1972.^[25]
• Four Saint^[133]s in Join Acts, Piccolo Met, New Royalty City, 1973.^[44][134]

Director

Filmography

Performer

Choreographer

Tributes to Ailey

See also

References

Citations