Alvin Ailey Dance Company

            The Alvin Ailey Dance company was founded in March 1958. From a performance done in New York City on 92nd Street Y. The founder Alvin Ailey was born in Texas and moved to Los Angeles where he started to pursue dance. In LA he was mentored by Lester Horton, who founded the first racially integrated dance company, and took classes from him. Mr. Ailey also trained with Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm, Karel Shook, and Martha Graham. Also he took acting classes with Stella Adler.
         Mr. Ailey's inspiration for his dances and his company come from memories from his hometown in Texas, spirituals, gospel, and the blues. Revelations, which was created by Ailey from these inspirations, is now one of the most popular performances from the company. Once Mr. Ailey passed away in 1989, the new artistic director was Ms. Judith Jamison. However she died recently in July 2011, and the current artistic director is Robert Battle. The company's dance style is modern dance with influences of African-American culture.
       Today the company has over 200 performances and 80 choreographers. Apart from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is the main company, there is Ailey II. This company was founded in 1974, by Sylvia Waters, and is for college aged students. Also they have an Ailey performing arts school. A theater in New York which offers classes of different genres to people ages 16 and up. The Ailey company also has community and education programs. An US Congressional resolutions described the company as “a vital American cultural ambassador to the world,” one that celebrates the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage.
      Alvin Ailey Dance company interests me because I enjoy their performances and their dancers always dance with strength and are powerful. Also that they mix modern dance and are influenced by different cultures around the world. This link is a piece that 3 dancers from the company performed on So You Think You Can Dance. I thought this piece was interesting and enjoyed the dancers technique, strength, and execution of the dance.

Strengths and Weaknesses

             My greatest strengths as a dancer are being a quick learner, and having good rhythm and timing. One strength I have is being able to pick up choreography fairly quickly. I enjoy learning new choreography so it usually does not take me too long to learn new dances. Another strength is I have good rhythm and timing while dancing and usually stay on beat. I way I might have accomplished this strength is when I was younger I took piano lessons and when you're playing its important to stay on in rhythm, so this might have helped my timing and rhythm.
            My greatest weaknesses as a dancer is performing, choreographing, and spotting. One weakness of mine is performing. I need to work on not just going through the motions of the movements. Also not to over think the movements. But make sure I'm performing to the audience. Also if the dance is trying to show an emotion or idea to make sure I convey it. And to be expressive. A way I could turn this into a strength could be when I'm practicing or warming up to dance full out and to the best of my ability. And to practice performing not just on the stage but also when there is no audience. Another weakness is that I do not like choreographing that much. I like learning new choreography than making up my own. A way i could turn this into a strength is by using improv to create a dance or choreographing small parts or counts at first to make a longer piece. Spotting is also another weakness. I could turn this into a strength just by practicing when I'm turning to focus on a specific spot.

What is dance and why is it important?

            The dictionaries definition of dance is to “move rhythmically to music: to move the feet and body rhythmically, usually in time to music.” Also to “perform particular steps to music: to perform or participate in a particular series of rhythmic steps and movements, usually to music.” Dance to me means a movement of the body that is usually done to music. Dance can be used in many different ways. It can be used to express emotions, spiritually, or performed to share a message or an idea. Also you can dance socially or just for fun. Dance also has different genres and styles. For example hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballet, and ballroom. The styles and genres have been influenced and started by different cultures and music styles. 

         Dance is important because it can be used to express emotions and to share a message. Dance is also important because it is used as a form of entertainment. For example different dance shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Americas Best Dance Crew. Other forms of entertainment are dance used in plays and movies, and in performances and concerts. Dance is also an occupation for some people. For example dance teachers, background dancers, and members of dance companies and groups. Some of my favorite dance groups are Alvin and Ailey, and The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. Different dance classes are taught in schools, colleges, and gyms. Dance is used for competitions. Dance is also taught at dance studios for lessons. Dance is universal and anyone in the world can dance no matter if they are good, as long as it is enjoyable to them.