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Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey

Actor, Other Crew

Born January 5, 1931 in Rogers, Texas, USA

Died December 1, 1989

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Biography

Ailey was born in the rural town of Rogers, Texas, USA. His childhood memories and experiences often informed his choreography; the most notable of his works was "Blues Suite", "Cry" (choreographed for Judith Jamison), and "Revelations", a ballet based on Ailey's observations and experiences in Black Baptist churches that was set to traditional Negro Spirituals. "Revelations" has the distinction of being one of the most performed ballets in the world. Beginning his dance career in 1953 with Lester Horton's dance company, Ailey assumed the artistic direction of Horton's company after Horton's death in 1953. In 1958, Ailey's seven member dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, made its debut at the 92nd Street YMHA in New York City. Keeping a unique perspective about dance, he did not use his dance company merely as a vehicle to showcase his own choreography; he developed the Ailey American Dance Theater into a repertory company that provided art and entertainment while institutionalizing modern dances, helping preserve and develop old and new works by a variety of choreographers. Before his death in 1989, he had choreographed seventy-nine ballets, received New York's Handel Medallion, the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award for lifetime contributions to modern dance, and in 1988, the Kennedy Center honored him for lifetime achievement in the performing arts. Additionally, Ailey's company was sent on several world tours by the U. S. State Department performing in the Soviet Union, France, Denmark, Finland, Morocco, and throughout South America to enthusiastic audiences and critics. After his death in 1989, his protege and former principal dancer Judith Jamison became artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater furthering the Ailey dance tradition and artistic mission that is applauded and acknowledged throughout the world.

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Alvin Ailey Photos

Angela Bassett attends Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaters 60th Anniversary Gala in New York City

Alvin Ailey Videos

AILEY - Official Trailer - In Theatres July 23

Filmography

Actor

16

Type

Year

Ailey Feature Film2021Self

Mr. Soul! Poster

Mr. Soul! Documentary2018Self

Carmen and Geoffrey Poster

Carmen and Geoffrey Documentary2005Self

Genius on the Wrong Coast Poster

Genius on the Wrong Coast Documentary1993

Bill Cosby Salutes Alvin Ailey TV Special1989Self

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts Poster

The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts TV Special1988Self - Honoree

An Evening with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Poster

An Evening with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Feature Film1986Self

The Core of the Apple TV Series1986Self - American Dance Theater

Ebony/Jet Showcase Poster

Ebony/Jet Showcase TV Series1982Self

Bicentennial Minutes Poster

Bicentennial Minutes TV Series1974Self - Narrator

The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People Poster

The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People TV Series1973Self

The Eamonn Andrews Show Poster

The Eamonn Andrews Show TV Series1964Self

The Hollywood Palace Poster

The Hollywood Palace TV Series1964Self - Dancer

Camera Three Poster

Camera Three TV Series1956Self

Carmen Jones Poster

Carmen Jones Feature Film1954Dance Soloist

Lydia Bailey Poster

Lydia Bailey Feature Film1952Specialty Dancer

Other Crew

6

Type

Year

A Tribute to Alvin Ailey Poster

A Tribute to Alvin Ailey TV Movie1990

An Evening with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Poster

An Evening with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Feature Film1986

The Turning Point Poster

The Turning Point Feature Film1977

American Ballet Theatre: A Close-Up in Time Documentary1973

The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People Poster

The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People TV Series1973

Great Performances Poster

Great Performances TV Series1971

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