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.