About Ailey

Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary Image. Photo by Normand Maxon. Thumbnail
Add to Download Cart

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congressional resolution as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” has performed for over 23 million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on 6 continents, celebrating the African-American cultural experience and the American modern dance tradition. Ailey’s permanent home is The Joan Weill Center for Dance, the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City,  the dance capital of the world.

The Ailey Organization includes: Ailey II (a second performing company of young dancers and emerging choreographers), The Ailey School (one of the world's most extensive dance training programs), Ailey Arts in Education & Community Programs (which bring dance into classrooms and communities), and Ailey Extension (offering dance and fitness classes to the public). 

Featured News Releases

Ailey II - The Next Generation Of Dance - Sets Out On A World Tour As Ailey's 60th Anniversary Celebrations Begin

(New York) September 13, 2017 – As the “Ailey Ascending” 60th Anniversary celebration gets underway, Ailey II embarks on a 38-city world tour this Saturday, September 15, continuing through May 18 (schedule on page 3). The renowned 12-member ensemble will inspire audiences in nearly two dozen cities across the U.S., including a stop in Atlanta as part of Ailey’s Destination Dance initiative, which uses dance as a centerpiece for engagement through partnerships with cultural, civic, and educational institutions. Ailey II will reach international audiences in Canada, Poland, Germany, France and Luxembourg, and will return home for its annual New York season, taking place at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts March 13 – 17, 2019.

Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary Celebration Honors Groundbreaking Founder While Taking Bold New Leaps To Elevate Organization's Reach And Impact

August 1, 2018 (NEW YORK CITY) —When Alvin Ailey and a small group of African American modern dancers first took the stage in 1958, appearing at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, the engagement was for one night only—but it turned out to be the start of a new era in the performing arts. Mr. Ailey became one of the groundbreaking greats in African American history, while the work of his Company grew beyond the limits of the stage to encompass education at all levels, community outreach and cultural diplomacy. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater now embodies six decades of achievement, celebrating the human spirit with performances that unite and inspire all.

Step Up Your Dance Moves This Summer At Ailey Extension With Performance Workshop Series & Master Classes

(New York) July 20, 2018 – Ailey Extension invites dancers to find their summer groove with exciting workshops and master classes. In addition to its annual Summer Performance Workshop series, Ailey Extension will offer an Alonzo King LINES Ballet Master Class with Meredith Webster and a “Werk That Twerk” workshop with famed hip-hop instructor TweetBoogie. These opportunities allow students to refine their technique, boost stage presence, and perform movement highlighting their personal style while learning from some of New York City’s top instructors at The Ailey Studios.

Featured Press Coverage

WallStreetJournal_Moneyish_AAADT_JudithJamison_JacquelineGreen_Cry_Feature_09.17.18

Wall Street Journal - Alvin Ailey's Muse Tells A Young Artist What It's Like To Dance In Her Shoes

The dance legend who inspired some of Alvin Ailey's most iconic choreography is guiding a rising star to follow her actual footsteps. Judith Jamison met Ailey in a stairwell after bombing an audition in 1965, when she was 22. But that first misstep leg to a 50-year career after Ailey invited her to join his new Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which was showcasing black modern dancers just as the civil rights movement was also hitting its stride.

DanceMagazine_AAADT_ChoreographyUnlockedFestival_RennieHarris_Feature_October2018Issue

Dance Magazine - Choreography Unlocked

Ailey launches a new festival focused on the choreographic process. Coming this fall to the ever-expanding Ailey organization is an intriguing new event: the Choreography Unlocked festival. From Oct. 12-14 and 26-28, the Joan Weill Center for Dance will host workshops, performances and panel discussions. It is an extension of Ailey's New Directions Choreography Lab, an annual residency fellowship for four emerging and mid-career choreographers, founded by artistic director Robert Battle in 2011.