Tracy Inman

Co-Director, The Ailey School

Tracy Inman, Co-Director of The Ailey School
Please Credit Photo: Tracy Inman, Co-Director of The Ailey School. Photo by Nir Arieli.
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Tracy Inman is a native of Washington, D.C. and a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts where he majored in music. In 1981, he changed his artistic course from music to dance. Subsequently, he moved to New York City where he was awarded a scholarship to study at The Ailey School. After completing two years of intense training, Mr. Inman was invited to join Ailey II. In 1989, he performed with the Jamison Project in its final year and became a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1990 -- touring nationally and internationally with The Company for five years and working with choreographers such as Ulysses Dove, Jerome Robbins, Donald Byrd, and Louis Johnson. His other performance credits include two international productions of the musical Cats in Vienna, Austria and Antwerp, Belgium. In 1999, Mr. Inman began teaching the Horton technique at The Ailey School, and in 2001, he was named Co-Director of the Junior Division where he launched the Ailey Athletic Boys Program—a program that provides scholarship training to young males. In 2009, he was appointed Associate Director of The Ailey School, and Co-Director in 2010. He is also Director of The Ailey School Horton Pedagogy. Mr. Inman has also served as a judge for Ballet Stars of the 21st Century Dance Competition in Panama City, Panama, The Seoul International Dance Competition in Seoul, South Korea, Dream on Dance Competition in Verona, Italy,  and The Prix de Lausanne, Lausanne Switzerland. He was also the choreographer for FX’s hit television show Pose.  

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The Ailey School Co-Director Tracy Inman with students from the Professional Division
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Tracy Inman, Co-Director of The Ailey School
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The Ailey School Co-Director Tracy Inman with students from the Professional Division
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Featured News Releases

Ailey Extension And AREA Atlanta Join Forces To Host Classes Led By Stars Of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater During First-Ever Virtual Ailey Experience Destination Dance Atlanta Workshop Series

(New York) January 27, 2021 – For the first time in the five-year history of its collaboration, Ailey Extension and AREA Atlanta are coming together to make the multi-day Ailey Experience Destination Dance Atlanta event into a virtual affair. This year’s participants are in for a unique treat, as the workshops will be taught by current Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company members. The three-day weekend experience immerses greater Atlanta residents in the spirit of Ailey with classes in Horton, contemporary, and West African techniques, while introducing dancers to the exciting world of choreography, creativity, and fun in a non-competitive environment. These classes and the preceding panel discussion allow participants to learn the rich history of Ailey’s signature style and how he changed the perception of American modern dance.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Announces Special Events To Introduce New York City Center Engagement December 4, 2019 - January 5, 2019

NEW YORK – September 5, 2019 — The Ailey School, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, was selected to perform in the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. Over 100 students from all programs of The Ailey School will answer the call of “Let’s Have a ParadeTM,” the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924. Led by The Ailey School Co-Director Tracy Inman, the dancers from age seven to 25 will perform a dance inspired by the “Rocka My Soul” finale of Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece Revelations.

The Ailey School Co-Directorship Announcement

Today, the Ailey organization announced that Tracy Inman and Melanie Person have been named Co-Directors of The Ailey School. Since the passing of Denise Jefferson, the beloved long-time Director of The Ailey School, Inman and Person have served as Acting Co-Directors.

Featured Press Coverage

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Dance Magazine - A High Degree of Success: The Ailey/Fordham Dance BFA Turns 25

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.

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WABC 7 - Celebrating 50 Years Of Alvin Ailey's Ailey School

In March of 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of dancers first performed at the 92nd street "Y" on the Upper West Side. Nine years later, he started the Ailey School. Now, 50 years later, the school continues celebrating Ailey's vision. "He could see almost the future in dance, and what he did, he did with such heart and honesty and love that it still is alive today," co-director Tracy Inman said. And it shapes these dancers are both personally and professionally. Young people from all over the world go there to learn and perfect their craft. Guided by Mr. Ailey's mission that dance is for everybody, the young people pour every ounce of their souls and bodies into their craft. The Alley School has trained 75% of the current members of the first company.