When Alvin Ailey founded his modern dance company in 1958, with the idea of reflecting the African American experience on stage, he could never had imagined that it would become one of his country's pre-eminent cultural exports. And it is international tours, such as the one that was launched in London on Tuesday, that have helped to set the seal on the troupe's amazing success.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are back in the UK for the first time in six years, including two shows at the Royal Concert Hall. Kelly Apter speaks to dancer Linda Celeste Sims.
What does it mean to be an American woman in 2016? Each of the women on the net 50 pages has her own glorious, gutsy, utterly unique answer. And they'll define themselves, thanks.
Thursday, Aug. 11, more than 100 youngsters will take the stage at Hostos Center for Arts & Culture for a festive performance that caps their six-week summer at CAS/AileyCamp New York. They will showcase skills nurtured by the innovative program that combines dance and classes in creative communication and personal development to give kids ages 11 to 14 tools that help them reach their full potential by encouraging self-awareness, self-esteem and discipline.
The next at-home barre workout comes from Sarita Allen, a former dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Sarita founded Ailey Barre in 2015 and teaches the class to students of all levels at Ailey Extension in New York City.
The final installment of the “Untitled America,” by the choreographer and MacArthur fellow Kyle Abraham, will have its premiere during the coming Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater season, which runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 31.
Peter Brandenhoff has just announced to his Ballet Arts students that he'll be taking it easy this class, because he recently tore his calf muscle. "I'm going to sit here like an old Russian," he says in his faint Danish accent, as he moves to a chair to the front of the cavernous New York City Center studio and sits down.
Attracting boys to dance has never been easy. It doesn't matter that football players like Hall of Famer Lynn Swann or the New York Jets' Steve McLendon took ballet an it improved their game, or that Lionel Messi looks like a ballet dancer when he shows how to control the soccer ball.
When Chanell Lewis, a 14-year-old from Jeremiah Academy in Miami Gardens, heard about AileyCamp Miami, she signed up to take the dance-intensive course expecting nothing more than just dance. After her fourth week in the program, though, Chanell has not only learned various dances, but she has also taken youth empowerment courses.
Alvin Ailey Dance Company choreographer, Mauro Bigonzetti debuted an ensemble routine titled, “Deep” to the music of twin sister duo, Ibeyi.