Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey was an American dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958.
His work blended modern dance, ballet, and African American vernacular movement, most famously in *Revelations* (1960), a celebration of African American spirituality set to gospel music.
The company he founded remains among the most prominent in American dance.
Truths suddenly made known
- stagingPreparing for presentation
- artistic directionControl over aesthetic choices
- repertoireWorks ready to perform
- expressionConveyed thought or feeling
gesture · narrative · interpretation · collaboration · mentorship · ensemble work · improvisation · tableau
- contractionReduction in size
- releaseTo let go
- floorworkDance performed on floor
- fluidityState of flowing freely
expressionism · African dance · jazz dance · physical theater · kinesthetic · somatics · contemporary · postmodern
First to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- cultural iconWidely recognized symbolic figure
African American heritage · civil rights era · Kennedy Center · outreach · education · accessibility · inspiration
Revelations
Truths suddenly made known
- stagingPreparing for presentation
- artistic directionControl over aesthetic choices
- repertoireWorks ready to perform
expression · gesture · narrative · interpretation · collaboration · mentorship · ensemble work · improvisation · tableau · blocking
Martha Graham
- contractionReduction in size
- releaseTo let go
- floorworkDance performed on floor
fluidity · expressionism · African dance · jazz dance · physical theater · kinesthetic · somatics · contemporary · postmodern
pioneering
First to explore territory
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
cultural icon · African American heritage · civil rights era · Kennedy Center · outreach · education · accessibility · inspiration
- Dance Worldballet company, jazz ensemble, touring company, repertory company, Bolshoi Ballet
- dance groupsdance troupe, dance company, dance ensemble, dance team, dance crew
- dance organizationsballet school, dance academy, dance studio, dance company, ballet company
- LGBTQ IconsRuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Sylvester
- modern dancemodern dance, contemporary dance, Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, interpretive dance
- Dance CompaniesNew York City Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet