Alvin Ailey Coming To Orlando
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers. That performance changed forever the perception of American dance.
Don’t miss out on this incredible performance held at the Dr. Phillips Center. Continue reading to learn about Alvin Ailey. His incredible performers and what you can expect to see in their amazing, inspirational performance.
Who Is Alvin Ailey?
Alvin Ailey Jr. (January 5, 1931 – December 12, 1989) was an American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). He created AAADT and its affiliated Ailey School. As havens for nurturing Black artists and expressing the universality of the African American experience through dance.
His work fused theater, modern dance, ballet, and jazz with Black vernacular. Creating hope-fueled choreography that continues to spread global awareness of Black life in America. Ailey’s choreographic masterpiece Revelations is recognized as one of the most popular and most performed ballets in the world.
The Alvin Ailey Dance Company
While Ailey choreographed more than 100 ballets for his dancers. He insisted that the company perform pieces by other choreographers rather than stand as a singular vehicle for his voice. In present-day the company continues this ethos by presenting major revivals and commissioning pieces from a wide range of choreographers. The company’s repertoire contains over 200 ballets.
Though AAADT was formed to celebrate African American culture and to provide performances for black dancers, who were frequently denied opportunities due to racist mores of the time. Ailey proudly employed artists based solely on artistic talent and integrity, regardless of their background. In addition to his work as artistic director and choreographer with AADT.
Ailey also choreographed ballets for other companies including American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and The Metropolitan Opera. For American Ballet Theater, he created The River (1970), one of several choreographer’s he set to the jazz music of Duke Ellington.
From her joining in 1965, the dancer Judith Jamison served as Ailey’s muse.[41] In 1971 she premiered Cry, which he dedicated to his mother and black women everywhere.[42] Jamison took over as artistic director following his death.
Other important figures in the company include Sylvia Waters, who in 1974, after performing with the company for six year was asked by Ailey to lead The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble—a junior company, known today as Ailey 2, that prepares leading students for professional dance careers—[46][47] and Masazumi Chaya, who danced with the company for 15 years then became rehearsal director, and was appointed associate artistic director in 1991.
Ailey’s Coming to Orlando!
The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents, as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms. Today, the Company continues Mr. Ailey’s mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones. In all, more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers have been part of the Ailey company’s repertory.
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