My Favorite Choreographers/Dance Educators (Part 3)

(In No Particular Order)

Dance can be so much more than pure entertainment.  It can make political statements, illustrate a time in history, stir an audience’s emotions...Dance is art.  Some choreographers embrace this fact and raise dance up to its fullest potential.  This leads me to my next favorite choreographer/dance educator...

Alvin Ailey!

Alvin Ailey was born in Texas in 1931.  As you are probably familiar with American history, 1931 was a time of turmoil, poverty, and segregation, not a great foundation for success.  To find work, Ailey’s mother moved to Los Angeles in 1942.  In school he showed a great interest in the arts, but did not discover dance until his friend brought him to Lester Horton’s dance studio in Los Angeles (another pivotal dance innovator).  (Just a little background, Lester Horton’s school was the first multi-racial studio in the US.)  Ailey joined Horton’s company in 1953 and became the artistic director upon Horton’s death later that year.

In 1954 Ailey appeared in numerous Broadway shows, yet was disappointed in the styles of dance that were offered in NYC.  This inspired him to create his own opportunities by forming the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.  He used numerous styles of dance and all theatrical elements to create his productions.  The content of his pieces were often derived from his own life and celebrated African American culture, history, strength, and potential.  He sadly passed away in 1989.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is now one of the most well-known and respected dance companies in the world and is a part of the Ailey School, a prestigious dance school in NYC.

Why I Love Him

Need I say more?

His choreography, soul, intellect, and reverence for his culture created some of the most iconic pieces of modern dance of all time.  He also elevated African Americans in the dance world, which mirrored the civil rights activism in America at the time.  He not only revolutionized dance, but changed history.

When taking class at the Ailey School or attending an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance, you can feel his positive energy all around.  There is such respect and admiration for this man; the experience is unlike any other.  At these performances, audiences dress up, pay true respect to the performers, and dance and sing in their seats.  It is truly a spiritual experience attending a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  If you ever have the opportunity, go see a show!

To find out where they are performing, click here.