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Alvin Ailey
Choreographer

Alvin Ailey

Famoose for

Creating Revelations and founding a major American dance company.

Blues Suite · Revelations

Born
5 January 1931
Birthplace
Rogers, United States
Died
1 December 1989

More people

Joseph PulitzerBuilding influential newspapers and endowing the Pulitzer Prizes.Conan O’BrienHosting late-night television with absurd sketches and self-deprecating humour.Fred AstaireMaking dance central to Hollywood musicals, especially with Ginger Rogers.

Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey was an American choreographer who brought Black experience and musical traditions to the modern-dance stage.

Early life

Texas

Grew up in the segregated American South.

Los Angeles

Trained with Lester Horton after moving to California.

Career

  1. 1950s

    Performing

    Worked as a dancer and appeared on Broadway.

  2. 1958

    Own company

    Founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

  3. Later career

    International touring

    Built a company with a worldwide audience.

Selected work

Blues Suite

Drew on the atmosphere of Southern social life.

Revelations

Set a journey through sorrow and joy to spirituals and gospel.

Cry

Created a celebrated solo for Judith Jamison.

Beyond work

Education

Established a school and opportunities for younger dancers.

Recognition

Received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988.

Sources & photo creditLife, career and references ↗

Photo: Carl Van Vechten. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.