Orange County Register - Allegiance to Alvin Ailey
Artistic director Judith Jamison reflects on her long relationship with the dance company and its late founder.
Artistic director Judith Jamison reflects on her long relationship with the dance company and its late founder.
The work of Alvin Ailey — the legendary dancer and choreographer — lives on through his ground-breaking dance troupe, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Judith Jamison remembers standing backstage glowing with joy when President Barack Obama and his family received a standing ovation at a recent Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance. She wished her mentor was still alive to see it all.
The Obamas drop by the Kennedy Center in DC last night for a performance of New York's renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
It was intermission at the 50th Anniversary Gala for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As two friends in black tie passed each other on the Kennedy Center red carpet one said to the other, “Well, is change keeping you busy?” The other answered brightly, “Yes, exhaustingly and beautifully so.”
"I was youngish," says Sylvia Waters of the time, in 1968, when she joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. "You can see that I'm trying not to be too specific," she jokes, speaking on a cell from a coffee shop in New York City.
Melena Ryzik reports from the 50th anniversary benefit gala for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Fifty years later, Alvin Ailey's vision of dance continues to be "a revelation."
Once, while on tour, Alvin Ailey noticed a young company member gazing wistfully out of the bus window. "She must be thinking about her son," he said to himself. And Sylvia Waters was.
Wanted: Ken doll in tights to dance with new Barbie.