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Alvin Ailey
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Alvin Ailey Jr. (5 January 1931 – 1 December 1989) was an African-American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York Theater. Ailey is largely credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance. His company gained the nickname "Cultural Ambassador to the World" due to its extensive international touring. It is theorized that Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is the most well-known and frequently seen modern dance performance.
y was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Cooper, in Rogers, Texas.
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Encyclopedia
Alvin Ailey Jr. (5 January 1931 – 1 December 1989) was an African-American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York Theater. Ailey is largely credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance. His company gained the nickname "Cultural Ambassador to the World" due to its extensive international touring. It is theorized that Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is the most well-known and frequently seen modern dance performance.
Biography
Early years
Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Cooper, in Rogers, Texas. His father abandoned the family when Alvin was only 6 months old and like many African-Americans living in Texas during the Great Depression Ailey's mother moved often, struggling to find work. Ailey grew up during a time of racial segregation and rumors of violence and lynchings against African-Americans and the rape of his mother by white men when he was five made him fearful of whites. Early experiences in the Southern Baptist church and juke joints instilled in him a fierce sense of black pride and would go on to figure prominently in Ailey's signature works.'
In the Fall of 1941, Ailey's mother, like many African Americans, migrated to Los Angeles, California where she heard there was lucrative work supporting the war effort. Ailey joined his mother later that summer by train, having stayed behind in Texas to finish out the school year. Upon arrival in California Ailey's first Junior High School was located in a primarily white school district. As one of the only black students, Ailey felt out of place and so the Aileys moved to a predominantly black school district. He matriculated into George Washington Carver Junior High School and later, the Thomas Jefferson High School. He sang spirituals in the glee club, wrote poetry, and proved to have an affinity for foreign languages. Ailey frequented the entertainment districts on Central Avenue and in Downtown Los Angeles which further provided Ailey with positive examples of African-American performance. He regularly attended shows at Lincoln Theater and the Orpheum Theater where he saw jazz greats Count Basie, Pearl Bailey, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne and Pigmeat Markham. During this time, was attracted to the glamor of film entertainers Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. He also attended the dance by performances of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Katherine Dunham Dance Company, briefl taking a class taught by Dunham dancer, Thelma Robinson, in a seedy downtown night club. He also briefly studied tap dancing but was not fond of either style. Ailey did not become serious about dance until school friend, Carmen De Lavallade, introduced him to the Hollywood studio of Lester Horton in 1949. Horton would prove to be Ailey's major influence, becoming a mentor and giving him both a technique and foundation with with to grow artistically.
Horton's school taught a wide range of dance styles and techniques from classical ballet to jazz, to Native American dance. Horton's school was also the first multi-racial dance school in the U.S. Ailey at first displayed ambivalence towards becoming a professional dancer. Ailey studied Romance languages at various Universities in California, but was restless academically. In college he also studied the writings of James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Carson McCullers. Ailey moved to San Francisco in 1951 to continue college where he met Margaurite Angelos (Maya Angelou). They occasionally performed a nightclub act called "Al and Rita." Ailey earned a living waiting tables and dancing at the New Orleans Champagne Supper Club. Ailey was restless academically and ultimately returned to study dance with Horton in southern California.
The Horton Dance Company
At twenty-two Ailey began full-time study at Horton's school. He joined Horton's company in 1953, making his debut in Horton's Revue Le Bal Caribe. It was also during this period that he performed in several Hollywood films. Like all of Horton's students, Ailey studied other art forms including painting, acting, music, set design and costuming as well as ballet and other forms of modern and ethnic dance.
Horton's sudden death in November 1953 left the company with out an artistic director. The company had outstanding contracts that required new works. When no one else stepped forward, Ailey assumed the role of artistic director of the company. Despite his youth and inexperience (Ailey was only twenty-two and had only choreographed one dance in a workshop) Ailey began choreographing, directing scene and costume designs and running rehearsals.
Ailey designed his first piece to pay homage to Horton. It was arranged in such a way as to showcase James Truitte's physical strength and Carmen de Lavallade's beauty and dramatic abilities.
New York
In 1954, he and his friend Carmen De Lavallade were invited to New York to dance in the Broadway show, House of Flowers by Truman Capote. He also appeared in Sing, Man, Sing (1956) with Harry Belafonte, and with Lena Horne in Jamaica (1957). The New York modern dance scene in the fifties was not to Ailey's taste. He observed the classes of modern dance techniques of modern dance contemporaries such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Jose Limon. He felt Graham's dancing "finicky and
strange" and disliked the techniques of both Doris Humphrey and José Limón. Ailey expressed disappointment in not being able to find a technique similar to Horton's. Not finding a mentor, he began creating works of his own.
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
Ailey formed his own group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in 1957 which presented its inaugural concert on March 30, 1958. Works of note presented at this time include Blues Suite, a work deriving from blues songs. Ailey's choreography was a dynamic and vibrant mix of his previous training in ballet, modern dance, jazz, and African dance techniques. Ailey also insisted upon a complete theatricality including costumes, lighting and make-up. A work of intense emotional appeal expressing the pain and anger of African Americans,Blues Suite was an instant success and defined Ailey's style.
For his signature work, Revelations, Ailey drew upon his "blood memories" of Texas, the blues, spirituals, and gospel as inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work. Ailey originally intended for the dance to be the second part of a larger, evening-length survey of African-American music which he began with Blues Suite.
Through Ailey created 79 works for his company, Ailey maintained that his company was not repository for his own work. Today, the company continues Mr. Ailey's vision by performing important works from the past and commissioning new ones to add to the repertoire. In all, More than 200 works by over 70 choreographers have been performed by the Company.
Ailey took pride in the fact that his company was multi-racial. While, he wanted to give black dancers, who were frequently discriminated against by the racist attitudes of his contemporaries, an opportunity to dance; at the same time, he also wanted to rise above issues of negritude. His company always employed artists based solely on artistic talent and integrity regardless of their race
Ailey continued to create work for his own company, he also choreographed for other companies.
In 1962 the U.S. State Department sponsored The Alvin Ailey Dance Company's first overseas tour. Ailey was suspicious of his company's benefactors motives. He questioned whether their motives were propagandistic, seeking to display a distorted attitude of tolerance by showcasing a modern Negro dance group.
In 1970, Ailey was honored by being commissioned to create The River for American Ballet Theatre. The River used the music of Duke Ellington. Ailey viewed this as a chance to work with some of the best ballet dancers in the world, particularly with the great dramatic ballerina Sallie Wilson. ABT, however, insisted that the leading male role be danced by the only black man, despite Ailey and other contemporaries misgivings about said dancer's talent.
Cry (1971), was one of Ailey's greatest successes. He dedicated to his mother and black women everywhere. It became a signature piece for Judith Jamison
Technique
Ailey made use of any combination of dance techniques that best suited the theatrical moment. He valued eclecticism and in the process, created more a dance style than a technique. He said what he wanted from a dancer was a long, unbroken leg line and deftly articulated legs and feet of a "a ballet bottom" and the dramatically expressive upper torso of "a modern top." Also, “What I like is the line and technical range that classical ballet gives to the body. But I still want to project to the audience the expressiveness that only modern dance offers, especially for the inner kinds of things.”
Ailey's dancers came to his company with training from a variety of other schools, from ballet to modern and jazz and later hip-hop. He is unique in that he didn't develop a specific technique to train his dancers in prior to performance of his choreography. He approached his dancers more like a jazz conductor, requiring them to infuse his choreography with their own unique style which best suited their individual talent. This kind of input from dancers heralded a paradigm shift that allowed concert dance to resonate with other forms of African-American expression, including big band jazz.
Personal life
Ailey kept his life as a dancer a secret from his mother for the first two years. When she came to his dressing room and saw him in stage makeup for the first time, she slapped him in the face.
Alvin Ailey died of AIDS in 1989 at the age of 58. To spare his mother the social stigma of his death of AIDS, Ailey asked his doctor to announce that he had died of terminal blood Dyscrasia.
Choreography
- Cinco Latinos, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York City, 1958.
- Blues Suite (also see below), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre,Kaufmann Concert Hall, 1958.
- Revelations, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Kaufmann ConcertHall, 1960.
- Three for Now, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Clark Center, New York City, 1960.
- Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Clark Center, 1960.
- (With Carmen De Lavallade) Roots of the Blues, Lewisohn Stadium, New York City, 1961.
- Hermit Songs, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 1963.
- Ariadne, Harkness Ballet, Opera Comique, Paris, 1965.
- Macumba, Harkness Ballet, Gran Teatro del Liceo, Barcelona, Spain,1966, then produced as Yemanja, Chicago Opera House, 1967.
- Quintet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Church Hill Theatre,Edinburgh Festival, Scotland, 1968, then Billy Rose Theatre, New York City, 1969.
- Masekela Language, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Dance Festival, New London, CT, 1969, then Brooklyn Academy ofMusic, New York City, 1969.
- Streams (also see below), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 1970.
- Gymnopedies, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Brooklyn Academyof Music, 1970.
- The River, American Ballet Theatre, New York State Theatre, 1970.
- Flowers, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, ANTA Theatre, 1971.
- Myth, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Center, 1971.
- Choral Dances, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Center, 1971.
- Cry, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Center, 1971.
- Mingus Dances, Robert Joffrey Company, New York City Center, 1971.
- Mary Lou's Mass, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York CityCenter, 1971.
- Song for You, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Center, 1972.
- The Lark Ascending, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Center, 1972.
- Love Songs, Alvin Ailey City Center Dance Theater, New York City Center, 1972.
- Shaken Angels, Tenth New York Dance Festival, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1972.
- Sea Change, American Ballet Theatre, Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, DC, 1972, then New York City Center, 1973.
- Hidden Rites, Alvin Ailey City Center Dance Theater, New York CityCenter, 1973.
- Archipelago, 1971,
- The Mooche, 1975,
- Night Creature, 1975,
- Pas de "Duke," 1976,
- Memoria, 1979,
- Phases, 1980
- Landscape, 1981.
Stage
Acting and Dancing
- (Broadway debut) House of Flowers, Alvin Theatre, New YorkCity, 1954 - Actor and dancer.
- The Carefree Tree, 1955 - Actor and dancer.
- Sing, Man, Sing, 1956 - Actor and dancer.
- Show Boat, Marine Theatre, Jones Beach, New York, 1957 - Actor and dancer.
- Jamaica, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1957 - Actor and lead dance.
- Call Me By My Rightful Name, One Sheridan Square Theatre, 1961 - Paul.
- Ding Dong Bell, Westport Country Playhouse, 1961 - Negro Political Leader.
- Blackstone Boulevard, Talking to You, produced as double-bill in 2 by Saroyan, East End Theatre, New York City, 1961-62.
- Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, Booth Theatre, 1962 - Clarence Morris.
Stage Choreography
- Carmen Jones, Theatre in the Park, 1959.
- Jamaica, Music Circus, Lambertville, New Jersey, 1959.
- Dark of the Moon, Lenox Hill Playhouse, 1960.
- (And director) African Holiday (musical), Apollo Theatre, New YorkCity, 1960, then produced at Howard Theatre, Washington, DC, 1960.
- Feast of Ashes (ballet), Robert Joffrey Company, Teatro San Carlos, Lisbon, Portugal, 1962, then produced at New York City Center, 1971.
- Anthony and Cleopatra, Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, New York City, 1966.
- La Strada, first produced at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 1969.
- (With others) Mass, Metropolitan Opera House, 1972, then John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia Academy of Music, both 1972.
- Carmen, Metropolitan Opera, 1972.
- Choreographed ballet, Lord Byron (opera; also see below), Juilliard School of Music, New York City, 1972.
- Four Saints in Three Acts, Piccolo Met, New York City, 1973.
Director
- (With William Hairston) Jerico-Jim Crow, The Sanctuary, New York City, 1964, then Greenwich Mews Theatre, 1968.
Filmography
Appearances
- (Film debut) Dancer, Lydia Bailey, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1952.
- Dancer, Carmen Jones, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954.
Choreography
- Choreographer (with others), The Turning Point, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977.
Television
Appearances
- Dancer (with Horton Company), Party at Ciro's (also see below), 1954.
- Dancer (with Horton Company), Red Skelton Show (also see below), CBS, 1954.
- (With Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) Dave Garroway Today Show, NBC, 1959.
- (With Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) Look Up and Live, CBS, 1962.
- (With Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre) Camera Three, CBS, 1962-63.
- America's Tribute to Bob Hope, NBC, 1988.
- A Duke Named Ellington (also known as American Masters), PBS, 1988.
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988.
- 16th Annual Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1989.
- Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey, NBC, 1989.
Television Choreography
- The Jack Benny Show, CBS, 1954.
- Red Skelton Show, CBS, 1954.
- Parade, CBC, 1964.
- Alvin Ailey: Memories and Visions, PBS, 1974.
- "Blues Suite," Three by Three, PBS, 1985.
- "Revelations," The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988.
- "Revelations," Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey, NBC, 1989.
- "For Bird--With Love," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Steps Ahead, PBS, 1991.
- Also contributed choreography for Party at Ciro's, 1954.
- Choreographed Ailey Celebrates Ellington, 1974 and 1976, Solo for Mingus, 1979, and Memoria, 1979.
Adaptations
- Blues Suite, Masekela Language, Streams, and the ballet of Lord Byron have been filmed.
See also
External links
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