Alvin Ailey American Dance

This groundbreaking African-American company took to the stage in 1958, and continues to occupy stages worldwide every year.

by Contributor at Citysearch

Overview
Few dance troupes can boast a reputation as solid as Alvin Ailey's. Ever since its NYC debut, the troupe has enjoyed a constant stream of critical successes. This is due in part to the troupe's skill at cultivating new performers through both a junior company--Ailey II has developed quite a reputation of its own--and the Ailey School, which trains children ages three and up.

The Background
Today the AAADC is as much a product of artistic director Judith Jamison as Ailey (who died in 1989). Ailey melded the black experience, jazz inflected movement, a touch of classical style, and a large helping of gospel soul; Jamison, Ailey's muse for 15 years, rescued the company from financial worries and instituted the Women's Choreography Initiative, and Ailey Camps--a dance program for underprivileged kids nationwide.