Alvin Ailey Blog: Pressroom

Sharon Gersten Luckman, Executive Director of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, to Step Down in 2013

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:50:45 GMT

On January 25, 2012, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation announced that, after two decades of accomplishments with the Ailey organization—16 of them as the organization’s Executive Director—Sharon Gersten Luckman is planning to step down ...

Featured Technique: Theatre Dance

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:14:55 GMT

Ailey Extension instructor Vic DiMonda, who has a 25-year history in the performing arts, talks about the origins of theatre dance and what students can expect from his class. Mr. DiMonda will also be running The Musical Theatre ...

Videos: The Kat Wildish Performing in NY Showcase

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:47:12 GMT

Three times a year, various workshops at the Ailey Extension come together to perform as part of Kat Wildish Performing in New York Showcase. Extension adult students and outside dance groups participate in a professionally-produced performance at ...

Featured Technique: Ballet

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:15:23 GMT

Two of the Ailey Extension’s premier instructors are Finis Jhung and Kat Wildish, who both teach ballet to adult students. We asked them to talk a bit about the origins of ballet and why you might like to try taking a ...

3 Ailey Dancers and Their Playlists

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:42:07 GMT

Since music is such an integral part of dance, we asked three Ailey dancers to share some of the music that they have been listening to during the Company’s New York City Center ...

A Tribute to Sylvia Waters, Ailey II Artistic Director

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:53:24 GMT

Sylvia Waters has been a key part of the Ailey organization for more than 40 years, making a huge impact on the field of dance around the world—guiding and training young dancers and identifying and nurturing rising choreographers. Ms. ...

4 Ailey Dancers and Their Roles Onstage

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:31:31 GMT

We caught up with four Company members to get their thoughts on dancing particular roles in our current New York City Center repertory. Belen Estrada (pictured in rehearsals with ...

A Talk With Lisa Johnson-Willingham, Director of the Ailey Extension

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:23:59 GMT

Lisa Johnson-Willingham has danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, choreographed for a number of other companies, and ran several dance programs, including AileyCamp Chicago. Her experiences have profoundly shaped her vision ...

Behind the Dance: Journey

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:25:19 GMT

A new production of the solo Journey is one of the highlights of our 2011 New York City Center season. The work was choreographed in 1958 by Joyce Trisler, whose life is intimately tied to Ailey history. An early friend and ...

Photos: Rehearsing Home

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:38:18 GMT

Rennie Harris has choreographed a new work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater set to a soul-lifting score of gospel house music. The work is inspired by stories submitted to the HIV photo contest of people living with or affected by HIV, ...

Video: WABC 7 Previews Ailey's New York City Center Season

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:02:56 GMT

WABC Channel 7 sat down with Artistic Director Robert Battle to talk about his first season at the helm of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Company's upcoming New York City Center season, which will start on Nov. 30. ...

Behind the Dance: Festa Barocca

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:36:09 GMT

Acclaimed Italian choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti, named “one of the outstanding choreographers of the 21st century” By France’s Le Figaro, brings his distinctly European flair to the Ailey repertory with Festa Barocca, a returning ...

Behind the Dance: Urban Folk Dance

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:23:09 GMT

Characterized by a seamless blend of expressive theatricality and heart-stopping athleticism, Ulysses Dove’s choreography brilliantly captures the raw complexity of modern relationships. In Urban Folk Dance, two isolated couples search ...

Photos: Rehearsing Love Stories

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:40:49 GMT

One of the returning favorites for Ailey’s 2011 New York City Center season is Love Stories, the historic collaboration between Artistic Director Robert Battle, Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, and celebrated hip-hop/house ...

Featured Fitness: House Dance

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:33:24 GMT

As part of our year-long commitment to foster health, we’ve featured an array of fitness techniques for you to try. In our final installment, learn about house dance from instructor and DJ Eddie Stockton. House Dance, ...

Video: Ailey II on ABC 7

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:12:40 GMT

Ailey II will perform this Friday, Oct. 28, 8pm at Governors State University in University Park, IL. In a clip from ABC 7, Artistic Director Sylvia Waters talks about what dance lovers can expect from the ...

Featured Teacher: Michael Leon Thomas (Contemporary Dance)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:43:59 GMT

Having danced with several major companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Michael Leon Thomas now shares his performance wisdom with others as the Extension’s contemporary dance instructor. The technique he teaches can ...

Photos: Rehearsing Paul Taylor's Arden Court

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:02:01 GMT

During our upcoming New York City Center season, the Ailey dancers will perform a work by the modern American genius Paul Taylor for the first time: Arden Court, his romantic masterpiece set to a baroque score by William Boyce, is a suite of ...

Behind the Dance: Takademe

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:34:11 GMT

In our second installment of our Behind the Dance series of blog posts, Artistic Director Robert Battle talks about the origins of Takademe, a dance he created in 1999 that’s having its Company premiere during ...

Behind the Dance: Streams

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:36:16 GMT

Created in 1970 by Alvin Ailey, Streams premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as his first full-length work without a plot. Fast forward 41 years later to the Company’s 2011 season, and Streams is being heralded again as one of ...

Featured Fitness: Hip-Hop

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:48:14 GMT

As part of our year-long commitment to foster better health, we’re featuring an array of fitness techniques for you to try. This month, Jonathan Lee discusses the workout you can get from dancing in his hip-hop ...

Featured Teacher: Q Pittman (Street Jazz)

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:16:39 GMT

Q Pittman brings fun, wildness, and irreverence to his Sunday street jazz class. Learn more about what makes this movement maverick tick and what he has in store for his students. Street Jazz, Sundays, 4:00pm-5:30pm The Ailey ...

Dancer Kirven James Boyd Gives Inside Scoop on New Season

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:09:17 GMT

Company member Kirven James Boyd has literally jumped into the spotlight this year as the featured dancer on Ailey’s 2011-12 season poster in a pose from the “Sinner Man” section of Mr. Ailey’s Revelations. ...

Video: Get Ready to Samba

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:32:03 GMT

In honor of Brazilian Independence, the Ailey Extension will celebrate the music & dance of Brazil with samba instructor Quenia Ribeiro in an all-day workshop on Sunday Sept. 18, culminating in a full parade. Ms. Ribeiro appeared on ...

Featured Teacher: Sue Samuels (Broadway Jazz)

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:38:24 GMT

With more than 35 years of experience dancing and teaching classical jazz technique, Sue Samuels is a sought-after instructor who has worked with a variety of stars from the stage and screen, including Brooke Shields, Irene Cara, and Melba ...

Featured Fitness: Stretching

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:34:47 GMT

As part of our year-long commitment to foster healthier lives, the Ailey Extension presents an array of fitness techniques and philosophies for you to try. This month, learn about the philosophies behind stretching in three ...

Meet the Winners of the 2011 "Fight HIV Your Way" Contest

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:27:20 GMT

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is helping to share the incredible inspiration of individuals who Fight HIV every day. Ailey will create a world premiere inspired by the 10 First Place Winners of Bristol-Myers Squibb's ...

Glenn Allen Sims Blogs From the Road, Entry #5

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:15:30 GMT

As Ailey wraps up its 2011 International Tour, Company member Glenn Allen Sims sums up his experiences. This article originally appeared in Dance ...

Photos: Behind the Scenes with Ailey II

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:33:21 GMT

Our junior company Ailey II is in the midst of rehearsing both new and returning works in preparation for its upcoming fall season. The company begins its 2011-12 season tour September 16 in Towson, MD. (Be sure to check the ...

Glenn Allen Sims Blogs From the Road, Entry #4

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:58:09 GMT

As Ailey continues its 2011 International Tour, Company member Glenn Allen Sims has been keeping a blog of his experiences for Dance Magazine. Week 7: Returning to Köln, Germany brought back some of my fondest memories as a dancer ...

Glenn Allen Sims Blogs From the Road, Entry #3

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:06:01 GMT

As Ailey continues its 2011 International Tour, Company member Glenn Allen Sims has been keeping a blog of his experiences for Dance Magazine. Week 5: Following a morning flight from Berlin, the company arrived at ...

Ailey's Newest Dancers

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:51:37 GMT

Over the summer, new dancers joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for the Company's international tour. They're now preparing with for our exciting New York City Center season in December, taking on a host of new ...

Featured Teacher: Kay Wylie-Jacob, PhD (Tiny Steps)

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:06:52 GMT

As someone with an illustrious dance career that’s included work with Twyla Tharp, the Big Apple Dance Theatre, and the New York Feminist Art Institute, Kay Wylie-Jacob has a wealth of knowledge that she shares with parents and ...

Featured Fitness: Zumba®

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:22:31 GMT

As part of our year-long commitment to foster healthier lives, the Ailey Extension presents an array of fitness techniques for you to try. This month, we encourage you to get your sizzle on with Zumba® Fitness. Learn more about this great ...

Glenn Allen Sims Blogs From the Road, Entry #2

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:19:20 GMT

As Ailey continues its 2011 International Tour, Company member Glenn Allen Sims has been keeping a blog of his experiences for Dance Magazine. Week 3: I am in St. Petersburg, Russia, standing in front of one of the ...

Glenn Allen Sims Blogs From the Road, Entry #1

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:31:33 GMT

As Ailey continues its 2011 International Tour, Company member Glenn Allen Sims has been keeping a blog of his experiences for Dance Magazine. Learn more about Glenn's travels and Ailey's European adventures. Fifteen years. ...

Artistic Director Robert Battle and the Ailey Repertory

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:37:54 GMT

Before becoming Artistic Director on July 1, Robert Battle was already a major presence in the Ailey repertory, having choreographed works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School since 1999. Audiences around ...

Samuel Lee Roberts on Why He Dances

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:08:04 GMT

Ailey Company member Samuel Lee Roberts is profiled in Dance Magazine’s July 2011 “From the Heart” column. Read a brief excerpt of this Quakertown, PA native’s story and check out photos and a video of his ...

Featured Fitness: Horton

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:45:37 GMT

As part of the Ailey Extension’s year-long commitment to foster healthier choices in people's lives, we're featuring an array of fitness techniques for you to try. This month, get the facts about the benefits of Horton, a modern dance ...

Featured Teacher: Keith Alexander (Hip-Hop for Kids and Teens)

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:43:45 GMT

Keith Alexander teaches hip-hop as part of the Teen Extension program (ages 12-17) as well as a Hip-Hop 4 Kids workshop for kids ages 7-11, bringing some of the most popular moves from music videos and film to these younger dancers. We spoke ...

Photos and Video: Ailey in Russia

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:39:21 GMT

As part of its extensive 2011 international tour this summer, the Company will return to Russia for two weeks of performances: June 28-July 2 in Moscow and July 4-6 in St. Petersburg. This trip marks the Company’s fourth visit to ...

Samara's Master Workshop in Middle Eastern Dance

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:27:36 GMT

A premier instructor who has spent 25 years dedicated to Middle Eastern and North African dance, Samara is returning to the Ailey Extension with her annual master workshop from June 24-28. We spoke to her about what students will gain from this ...

The Ailey School's International Students, Part 3

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:00:04 GMT

The Ailey School has become known around the world for offering a diverse dance training curriculum of the highest caliber. In a three-part series on the Ailey Blog, we’re featuring the individual stories of three Ailey international ...

Featured Teacher: Hallee Altman (M.E.L.T. Technique)

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:51:07 GMT

Hallee Altman teaches M.E.L.T. , an innovative technique at the Ailey Extension that focuses on relieving muscle tension and strengthening connective tissue. Ms. Altman spoke to us about what participants can expect from her class and how to ...

The Ailey School's International Students, Part 2

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:44:46 GMT

Featured Fitness: Ashtanga Yoga

Wed, 25 May 2011 16:03:51 GMT

As part of our year-long commitment to foster healthier choices in people's lives, we’re featuring an array of fitness techniques for you to try. This month on the Ailey Blog, we talked to Irini Res about the benefits of the disciplined ...

The Ailey School's International Students, Part 1

Mon, 23 May 2011 15:16:22 GMT

Video: An Excerpt from The Evolution Of A Secured Feminine

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:15:03 GMT

TV station WGN-9 recently showcased an excerpt from choreographer Camille A. Brown's electric work The Evolution Of A Secured Feminine. Check out this short clip featuring Company member Ghrai DeVore, with music by Ella ...

The New Directions Choreography Lab

Wed, 11 May 2011 15:30:45 GMT

A hallmark of Robert Battle’s vision for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is the New Directions Choreography Lab, which he announced today at a press conference along with details for the Company's 2011-12 Season. “I ...

A Look at the Choreographers for Ailey's 2011-12 Season

Wed, 11 May 2011 15:06:37 GMT

For his first season as Artistic Director, Robert Battle has chosen to add to the repertory a rich array of premieres and new productions that express his vision for the Company while honoring some of his most significant ...

Robert Battle Announces Plans for His First Season

Wed, 11 May 2011 14:42:18 GMT

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Artistic Director Robert Battle has announced his plans for the Company’s 2011/12 season, presenting a diverse program full of innovation and extending Alvin Ailey’s legacy ...