Note: This article is presented as part of the ALL ARTS program “Alvin Ailey New Directions” by filmmaker Steven Tabakin. The eight-part digital series follows choreographers Quilan “Cue” Arnold and Maria Bauman as they work with dancers from The Ailey School as part of their New Directions Choreography Lab residencies. Here, Arnold shares further insight into his process.
The story took flight with a chance encounter at the 60th Street post office in Manhattan. It was the mid-'90s and Denise Jefferson, then head of The Ailey School, and Edward Bristow, then dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, would often bump into each other in the neighborhood. At that point, both schools were already looking for ways to expand their relationship, and Jefferson had previously floated the idea of starting a BFA program. While standing in line to buy stamps, Bristow says, their friendly chitchat set in motion an idea to form a planning committee tasked with creating a BFA program that would change the lives of scores of young dancers.
Ahtoy Juliana is an instructor with Ailey Extension and the Artistic Director of BAILA Society, a multi-faceted Latin dance and theater company that celebrates Latin dance and music heritage through its international repertory company, online dance academy, live classes, and community events. For more details on how people of all ages can get moving with Ailey to salsa and other techniques, check out alvinailey.org/extension.
Ahtoy Juliana is the Artistic Director of BAILA Society, a multi-faceted Latin dance and theater company that celebrates Latin dance and music heritage through its international repertory company, online dance academy, live classes, and community events. Ahtoy’s work as a dancer and choreographer has been featured in international dance festivals, musical revues, TV, and film, including the recent screen adaptation of In the Heights. Ahtoy began her professional training in classical ballet with the Houston and San Francisco Ballet Companies. She began her salsa career with Santo Rico Dance Company before creating BAILA Society in 2006.
TweetBoogie is a celebrated dancer and choreographer whose hip hop classes at Ailey Extension help introduce people from all walks of life to the culture through the element of dance. TweetBoogie teaches beginner hip hop at Ailey Extension on Sundays at 2pm and Mondays at 6:30pm. For more details on how people of all ages can get moving with Ailey to hip hop and other techniques, check out alvinailey.org/extension.
TweetBoogie is a celebrated dancer and choreographer whose hip hop classes at Ailey Extension help introduce people from all walks of life to the culture through the element of dance. TweetBoogie teaches beginner hip hop at Ailey Extension on Sundays at 2pm and Mondays at 6:30pm. For more details on how people of all ages can get moving with Ailey to hip hop and other techniques, check out alvinailey.org/extension.
The pioneering company’s warmth and athletic grace is showcased in a selection of old and new work. There’s something generous about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It’s there in the dancing – full of skill, passion and a charismatic warmth not always seen in contemporary dance companies. It’s there too in the programming: at Sadler’s Wells over the coming week, the company will perform four carefully curated bills, full of rarely seen and new work. At the same time, the young company Ailey II sets off on tour around Britain, with more treats planned.
The pioneering company’s warmth and athletic grace is showcased in a selection of old and new work. There’s something generous about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It’s there in the dancing – full of skill, passion and a charismatic warmth not always seen in contemporary dance companies. It’s there too in the programming: at Sadler’s Wells over the coming week, the company will perform four carefully curated bills, full of rarely seen and new work. At the same time, the young company Ailey II sets off on tour around Britain, with more treats planned.
It's a little hard to get your head around the various programmes being offered by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in its two-week London season. That's because there are four of them and some works pop up in more than one. Never mind which you choose, though, because they all showcase a wealth of choreography and the consistently high standard of dancing from this popular New York troupe.