Alicia Graf Mack was a star performer on the Ailey stage during a spectacular career between 2005 and 2014, when she was brought into the company and mentored by the incomparable Judith Jamison. She now returns to serve as AILEY’s fourth Artistic Director, after distinguishing herself as the Dean and Director of Dance Division of The Juilliard School from 2018-2025. Born in San Jose, CA, Ms. Graf Mack grew up in Columbia, MD. She began her career with Dance Theatre of Harlem under the direction of Arthur Mitchell and ascended to become a highly recognized principal ballerina. A celebrated artist, she performed with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and made guest appearances with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Her versatility led to collaborations with artists including Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, Alicia Keys, and Jon Batiste. Ms. Graf Mack has graced the stages of major galas and festivals, performed tributes to luminaries including Carmen de Lavallade, and danced at the memorial services for Arthur Mitchell at NYC’s Riverside Church and Jessye Norman at the Metropolitan Opera House. A Columbia University graduate (magna cum laude, honors in history), she also holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis. Some of her many honors are the prestigious 2023 Dance Magazine Award, Smithsonian Magazine’s American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences, and the Ebony Power 100 List of influential Black leaders and innovators. Other accolades include an honorary doctorate from The Juilliard School in 2025, Columbia University’s Medal of Excellence, keynote addresses at Columbia’s School of General Studies in 2008 and 2025, and the 2025 Columbia Black Alumni Heritage Award. Before arriving at Juilliard, Ms. Graf Mack was an assistant professor at Webster University and an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and Washington University. She hosted 3 seasons of Moving Moments, a podcast in which she interviews colleagues and friends to discuss the creative process and living a purposeful life in dance and is now working on a new podcast at AILEY, to launch in 2026.
