Biography of Alvin Ailey

1013 Words3 Pages

Although blackness influenced much of Alvin Ailey’s work, he ultimately felt that the importance lay in the dancer rather than the race. Ailey told the New York Times, "I am trying to show the world that we are all human beings and that color is not important. What is important is the quality of our work." Alvin Ailey, an iconic American choreographer, was born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas. Being an African-American born in the South influenced much of Ailey’s later work. He grew up in the height of racial segregations, lynching, and violence. Ailey’s mother Lula Ailey had him at 17 years old, his father, Alvin, abandoned his family. The history and experiences Alvin Ailey had in the South drastically changed Ailey’s view of whiteness. He drew his inspirations from his church, his local dance hall, and the music he heard at these black gatherings. At age 12, Ailey’s family moved to Los Angeles to look for different job opportunities. There, Ailey’s interests took flight and he became involved in dance.
Ailey attended the Thomas Jefferson High School. His school friend in 1949, Carmen De Lavallade, introduced him to Lester Horton. Horton’s multi racial dance school covered a wide range of styles including modern, jazz, and classical ballet. After eventually leaving the college track, at the age of 22, Alvin joined the Horton Dance Company. Ailey participated in different art forms and Hollywood films at this time. Horton died in 1953 leaving Ailey the new artistic director of the company. Alvin eventually went on to found his own company in 1958, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The company explains, “He established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (now The Ailey School) in 1969 and formed the Alvin Ailey Repert...

... middle of paper ...

...m/people/alvin-ailey-9177959.

"Alvin Ailey." American Dance Theater. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .

DeFrantz, Thomas. "Alvin Ailey." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. .

DeFrantz, Thomas. "Composite Bodies of Dance: The Repertory of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater." Project MUSE - Composite Bodies of Dance: The Repertory of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .

"Alvin Ailey." The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .

"Alvin Ailey - ABT." Alvin Ailey - ABT. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • Research Paper On Alvin Ailey

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every company has what is known as a “signature piece,” that is, a work which expresses something about the artistic direction and the spirit of the company. For the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater that piece is Revelations. Choreographed and set to traditional music, Revelations was first performed at the Ninety-second Street YM-YWHA New York, NY., January 31, 1960. The lead dancers were Joan Derby, Minnie Marhsall, Merle Derby, Dorene Richardson, Jay Fletcher, Nathaniel Horne, and Herman Howell and the soloists were Nancy Redi and Gene Hobgood. The music was performed by the Music Masters Guild Chorus of the Harlem Branch YMCA under the direction of Frank Thomas. The piece as originally performed consisted of danced portions and music interleudes grouped under three broad headings, “Pilgrim of Sorrow,” “That Love My Jesus Gives Me,” and “Move, Members, Move.” The work was revised extensively a month after its first performance and was again given at the Ninety-second Street YM-YWHA. Revelations has been seen in every country that the company has toured and has been universally acclaimed.

    Read More

  • The History of the Grand Ole Opry

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    Escott, Colin. The Grand Ole Opry: The Making of an American Icon. New York: Center

    Read More

  • How Mark Morris Changed Dance

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dance is an ever evolving form of art; in much the same way that one can categorize and differentiate between eras and styles of architecture one can also do so with dance. These eras at times have sharp delineations separating them from their antecedents, other times the distinction is far more subtle. Traditional forms of dance were challenged by choreographers attempting to expand the breadth and increase the depth of performance; preeminent among such visionaries was Seattle born dancer and choreographer Mark Morris. Mark Morris' began as one of the millions of hopeful individuals attempting to simply make a career in dance; he not only succeeded but managed to have a lasting effect on the entire landscape of dance.

    Read More

  • Alvin Ailey's Role In Modern Dance

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin was born during the Great Depression to two working class parents in Rogers, Texas. His father abandoned the family when Alvin was a mere six months old, leaving him and his mother with the struggle of fending for themselves. The inability for Alvin’s mother to find work led to their move to California in 1942, where Alvin was introduced by a classmate to the most influential person that would be the foundation for his future successful career in modern dance, Lester Horton (DeFrantz 1). Alvin was captivated by Lester’s work, which focuses on building a strong body, and made the executive decision to start his dance training in 1949 when he was eighteen years old. Because Lester Horton’s dance company embraced diversity, and accepted dancers of all ethnicities and backgrounds, Alvin was given the opportunity to do something great with his

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Alvin Ailey

    2627 Words  | 6 Pages

    As the first African-American to create a multicultural, international concert dance company, Alvin Ailey’s dance company has been dubbed the “cultural ambassador of the world” (Gorman 36). Through his Alvin Ailey Dance Company, he addressed the racism and injustice faced by ethnic minorities across the globe. Ailey clearly revolutionized African American participation in 20th century concert dance as well as revived interest in modern dance. As an extremely talented dancer and choreographer, Ailey’s success is attributed to his dedication and passion for expression through dance, but what is often overlooked is his resilience to the hardships he faced, the mentors he had, and the opportunities

    Read More

  • The Queen of Tap Dancing

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    In, J. (2008, November 12). Eleanor Powell - AFI Tribute to Fred Astaire [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vBLRO9pZ4c

    Read More

  • The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    "About Us." Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame. N.p., 2009. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .

    Read More

  • Summary Of Alvin Ailey's Revelations?

    1189 Words  | 3 Pages

    Revelations is a contemporary style dance that tells the story of African-American faith and tenacity from slavery to freedom through a suite of dances set to spirituals and blues music.This choreographic work was first performed in New York City on January 31,1960 at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and later recognized to be a signature piece for the theater. Alvin Ailey is the original choreographer of the masterpiece titled “Revelations” and also the founder of the dance theater where the piece Revelations is mainly showcased, Ailey was an African-American born January 5,1931 in Rogers, TX , only 29 when he decided to develop this dance piece. There was a time where opportunities for male dancers like himself was severely limited, so that 's when he decided to establish his work, this dance performance was Ailey 's idea for African Americans to express their talents,cultural history, and experience and was also encouraged by his memories of living in the south and his understanding of human development.

    Read More

  • The Jazz Singer

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Carringer, Robert L.. The Jazz singer. Madison: Published for the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research by the University of Wisconsin Press, 1979. Print.

    Read More

  • Langston Hughes

    2529 Words  | 6 Pages

    Langston Hughes was the second child of schoolteacher Carrie (Caroline) Mercer Langston and James Nathaniel Hughes. He grew up in a series of Midwestern small towns in Missouri. Hughes's father left his family and later divorced Carrie, going to Cuba, and then Mexico, seeking to escape the enduring racism in the United States (“Biography of Langston Hughes”). His grandmother raised him until he was thirteen (as his father had left him and his mother at a young age) when he moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband. They, later, settled in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Read More

  • Michael Jackson

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    Narrative: Michael Jackson was born and grew up in a strict working family in Gary, Indiana, USA on August 29, 1958. Jackson showed an early interest in music as did most of his family. His mother sang frequently, his father Joseph Jackson played guitar in a small-time R&B band, his older brothers often sang and played with their father’s guitar. Soon the family singing group started, with Michael as the main puppet and four of his older brothers. “After all it seemed to be the simplest way to earn money to feed so many kids said Joseph Jackson”. If you can't feed your kids teach them how to feed themselves. Anyway Michael soon outgrew his brothers with his unique talent not just for singing but for dancing as well. Jackson’s father, who is a controlling supposedly abusive father. "My father beat me. It was difficult to take being beaten and then going onstage.

    Read More

  • Overview of the Major Topics in Learning about Dance by Nora Ambrosio

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    Learning about Dance: Dance as an Art Form and Entertainment provides visions into the many features of dance and inspires scholars to keep an open mind and think critically about the stimulating, bold, ever-changing and active world of dance. Learning about Dance is particularly useful for those who do not have a wide and diverse dance contextual, such as students in a preliminary level or survey dance course. This book consists of twelve chapters. Chapter one dance as an art form focuses on the basic structures of dance. Dance is displayed through the human body, it has the control to communicate and induce reactions. Dance can be found in many different places, it enables the participants and seekers to touch and knowledge the joy of movement. Dance is discovered as being one of the oldest art forms worldwide. Dance existed in early cultures was recognized in a sequence of rock paintings portrayed dance. Since this discovery of rock paintings, several other forms of art have been found that depict dance. People used rituals in order to worship the gods and believed that the rituals held magical and spiritual powers. During the ancient period civilizations sentient decisions began to be made with regard to dance. Other periods that had an impact on dance were the medieval period, the renaissance period, and the contemporary period. Chapter two the choreographer, the choreographer is a person who comes up with the movements created into a dance routine. The choreographer expresses themselves through choreography because this is their way of communicating with the audience. In order to be a choreographer you must have a passion for dance. Each choreographer has their own approaches and ways of making up a routine. Choreographers ...

    Read More

  • Alvin Ailey Revelations Essay

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    Revelations may have first been performed in the 1960s, but it is far from outdated. 55 years later, Revelations is still significant and impactful in the world of dance. More than just a popular dance piece, Revelations has become a cultural treasure. It is the signature choreographic work of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and it was first performed in New York City on January 31st, 1960. In a time when America was gradually becoming ethnically diverse, Alvin Ailey played a vital role in carrying this progression into the dance world. Ailey uses Revelations to tell the story of African-Americans from slavery

    Read More

  • Government Oppression In The Hunger Games And The Giver

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thoron, Elise. "Ovations Offstage." A Study Guide for the School-Time Performance. Hannaford Hall, Portland. Hannaford Hall, Portland. 3 July 2013. Reading.

    Read More

  • Biography Of Westley Allan Dodd

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1989 Westley Allan Dodd was hanged to death for sexually assaulting and heinously murdering three defenseless children; all boys aged 11, 10, and 4. The details and events from his shocking diaries portray horrific accounts of the murders he committed and those he planned to enact had he not been finally brought to justice by one of his potential victims.

    Read More

More about Biography of Alvin Ailey

Open Document