The Ailey School

The Ailey School Co-Director Tracy Inman with students from the Professional Division
Please Credit Photo: The Ailey School Co-Director Tracy Inman with students from the Professional Division. Photo by Nir Arieli
Add to Download Cart

The Ailey School is the official school of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In 1969, Alvin Ailey founded The Ailey School (then called the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center) in Brooklyn, New York, with an initial enrollment of 125 students. Guided by Mr. Ailey’s mission that dance is for everybody, the School offers programs for aspiring dancers from ages 3 to 25.

Featured Images

Co-Directors of The Ailey School, Tracy Inman and Melanie Person
Co-Directors of The Ailey ... (Read More) Co-Directors of The Ailey School, Tracy Inman and Melanie Person (Hide)
Students from The Ailey School Professional Division
Students from The Ailey School ... (Read More) Students from The Ailey School Professional Division (Hide)
The Ailey School's Junior Division
The Ailey School's Junior ... (Read More) The Ailey School's Junior Division (Hide)
Ailey School co-director Melanie Person with students from the Professional Division
Ailey School co-director ... (Read More) Ailey School co-director Melanie Person with students from the Professional Division (Hide)
Ana Marie Forsythe with The Ailey School students
Ana Marie Forsythe with The ... (Read More) Ana Marie Forsythe with The Ailey School students (Hide)
Co-Directors of The Ailey School, Tracy Inman and Melanie Person
Students from The Ailey School Professional Division
The Ailey School's Junior Division
Ailey School co-director Melanie Person with students from the Professional Division
Ana Marie Forsythe with The Ailey School students
View More

Featured Video

The Ailey School Overview
The Ailey School Overview
View More

Featured News Releases

ALL ARTS Presents a Look Inside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle’s New Directions Choreography Lab in an Eight-Part Digital Series, Premiering May 2

ALL ARTS, the streaming platform and channel dedicated to the arts, will premiere Alvin Ailey New Directions, an eight-part digital series documenting the creative process of two choreographers as they explore new directions in dance during their residencies at the New Directions Choreography Lab, a creative residency program hosted by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle and The Ailey School, with Co-Director Melanie Person.

Ailey Shares The Gift Of Holiday Revelations With Free Streaming Of Opening Night Gala From December 21 Through January 2

NEW YORK – December 21, 2022 – The Ailey organization is sharing the gift of holiday Revelations with a free streaming of the 2022 Opening Night Gala at New York City Center from today, Wednesday, December 21 through Monday, January 2 on Ailey All Access, YouTube and Facebook. The one-night-only celebration features special appearances from Honorary Chair Tamron Hall, the two-time Emmy-winning TV host, journalist, author and producer, and philanthropist Denise Littlefield Sobel, the Honoree.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Return to Atlanta February 16-19, 2023 For Five Exciting Performances At The Fox Theatre

ATLANTA – December 21, 2022 – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, beloved as one of the world’s most popular dance companies, returns to the Fox Theatre, February 16-19 for five show-stopping performances featuring eight different dance works as part of a 22-city North American tour. Led by Artistic Director Robert Battle, Ailey’s extraordinary dancers will move audiences with world and company premieres by Kyle Abraham, Jamar Roberts, and Twyla Tharp. In addition to two repertory favorites by Robert Battle, founder Alvin Ailey’s choreography is spotlighted with a new production of Survivors for the first-time ever, a dance from his legendary collaboration with Duke Ellington, and the must-see masterpiece Revelations as the inspiring finale of all performances.

Featured Press Coverage

FordhamMagazine_TAS_BFA_MelaniePersons_25Years_Feature_PRINT_Summer2024

Fordham Magazine - The Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance Turns 25

The partnership between Fordham and the Ailey School has grown into one of the preeminent BFA dance programs in the country. Its graduates—inspired by Alvin Ailey’s trailblazing, humanist vision—have used their holistic education to make an impact in the arts and beyond.

CNN_TAS_AnaMarieForsythe_Retirement_Feature_05.17.24

CNN - Opinion: I Asked Several People Well Past Retirement Age Why They Keep Working. Here’s What They Told Me

The question for some of us is, why some people want to keep working decades beyond retirement age? CNN Opinion editor Stephanie Griffith asked seven people who are past the conventional retirement age why they are still at the job and got as many responses as there were respondents. Some keep working to make ends meet; others, because they love what they do and can’t imagine giving it up. And some insist that they are better than ever at their chosen professions and love leaning into their growing sense of competence. They continue to work happily and productively, and were happy to explain to us how and why they do it.

TheFordhamRam_TAS_AileyFordhamBFA_25Years_Feature_04.10.24

The Fordham Ram - Fordham Celebrates 25 Years Of Fordham/Ailey Program

The Ailey/Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program in dance is hosting the “Celebrating 25 Years” Dance Benefit Concert at the Ailey Citigroup Theater at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 15. The event is open to alumni, staff, students, family and the public and will begin with a cocktail reception. The performances will follow, beginning at 7 p.m.