Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Alicia Graf Mack and Caroline T. Dartey join ATL Live in-studio discuss their journey in the company and this weekend’s engagement at the Fox Theatre. Watch segment here (5 minutes): https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/02/13/alvin-ailey-returns-fox-theatre/
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is set to unveil a breathtaking 2025 season, celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Judith Jamison, the late Artistic Director Emerita who shaped Ailey’s identity for decades. A towering figure in dance, Jamison’s influence transcended choreography—she was a mentor, a visionary, and a force of nature whose passion for storytelling through movement inspired generations.
In our third episode of The Freedom to Be video series, timed to coincide with #NationalDanceDay today (Sept. 18), we spotlight the Black dance community in NYC. Choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey founded his namesake company in 1958 to bring African American dance to all corners of the US—and, eventually, the world. The dance theater, which forged a space for Black creatives in times and places where it often didn’t exist, is now a fixture of New York City culture. Meet two dancers from the troupe, Yannick Lebrun and Caroline Dartey, who emigrated from French Guiana and Switzerland, respectively, to pursue their dreams. Lebrun has been with the company for almost 15 years, while Dartey is just starting her journey. Both enjoy the sense of community and freedom of expression they’ve found at Alvin Ailey.
With effortless extensions, sky-high leaps, and equal parts elegance and strength, Ailey II company member Caroline Theodora Dartey is impossible to miss onstage. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Dartey actually started out training in rhythmic gymnastics, where she earned both national and international titles. She later took up dance, training at the Conservatoire Popular de Musique, Danse et Theatre of Geneva before deciding to move to NYC to pursue her dream career. She joined The Ailey School as a scholarship student in 2016, and is now embarking on her second season with Ailey II. Catch Dartey on tour with Ailey II all over the world this fall, and read on for The Dirt.