Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey was born January 5, 1931 in Rogers, Texas. He was the only child of working class parents who separated when he was very young.His early childhood was filled with poverty and racism. The African-American spirituals and overall culture he experienced would greatly influence his take on dance. In 1942, he and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California, where Ailey's interest in dance was sparked.
While in Los Angeles, he saw performances by Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and revues by dancer/choreographer, Katherine Dunham (also featured in our "Dancers" section of this website). Ailey began studying modern dance with dance pioneer, Lester Horton, at at 18. He learned a great variety of dance forms which broadened Ailey's knowledge of dance. When Horton died in 1953, Ailey took over his company, and with it, created his own dance style. Ailey later attended many colleges, but dropped out to pursue his dancing dreams in New York City. As he studied, he struggled toput together his own dance troupe, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which performed for the very first time on March 30. 1958. His company immediately took off, and is still a major dance company.Through his new dance company, Ailey debuted his most famous piece, Revelations. This piece is the epitome of Ailey's style. His works examine humanity and people's abilty to work together. He focused on the visceral impact of his dances, or how they affected the viewer's emotions, rather than visual appeal. In an interview in 1975, Ailey said, "I am trying to express something that I feel about people, life, the human spirit, the beauty of things. I'm trying to celebrate man's achievements--the beauty of music, of shapes, of form, of color, light texture. The idea of a person doing this with his body--the idea of freedom thrgouh discipline--is beautiful to me."
Alvin Ailey completely changed the face of Modern dance. He included African-American dancers, something that wasn't commonly seen prior to Ailey. He also, injected black culture and spirituality in his dances and choreography. These aspects came from his early childhood experiences. He understood his contribution do dance was linked to all he had experienced as a black man.He said, "The dance came from the people. It should always be given back to the people." His pieces relate so closely to human emotion and influenced Modern dance into the form we see it in today.
While in Los Angeles, he saw performances by Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and revues by dancer/choreographer, Katherine Dunham (also featured in our "Dancers" section of this website). Ailey began studying modern dance with dance pioneer, Lester Horton, at at 18. He learned a great variety of dance forms which broadened Ailey's knowledge of dance. When Horton died in 1953, Ailey took over his company, and with it, created his own dance style. Ailey later attended many colleges, but dropped out to pursue his dancing dreams in New York City. As he studied, he struggled toput together his own dance troupe, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which performed for the very first time on March 30. 1958. His company immediately took off, and is still a major dance company.Through his new dance company, Ailey debuted his most famous piece, Revelations. This piece is the epitome of Ailey's style. His works examine humanity and people's abilty to work together. He focused on the visceral impact of his dances, or how they affected the viewer's emotions, rather than visual appeal. In an interview in 1975, Ailey said, "I am trying to express something that I feel about people, life, the human spirit, the beauty of things. I'm trying to celebrate man's achievements--the beauty of music, of shapes, of form, of color, light texture. The idea of a person doing this with his body--the idea of freedom thrgouh discipline--is beautiful to me."
Alvin Ailey completely changed the face of Modern dance. He included African-American dancers, something that wasn't commonly seen prior to Ailey. He also, injected black culture and spirituality in his dances and choreography. These aspects came from his early childhood experiences. He understood his contribution do dance was linked to all he had experienced as a black man.He said, "The dance came from the people. It should always be given back to the people." His pieces relate so closely to human emotion and influenced Modern dance into the form we see it in today.
Revelations: Choreographed by Alvin Ailey
Revelations is Ailey's most famous piece. It explores the spirituality of African-American culture through spirituals and gospel songs that are danced by a predominantly black cast of his own company. Each section of this dance displays a different theme of African-American spirituality, such as: hope, repentance from sin, and God. Ailey's choreography, especially in Revelations, changed the scene of modern dance with its focus on black culture and spirituality.