Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Aileywas an African-American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. He is credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th-century concert dance. His company gained the nickname "Cultural Ambassador to the World" because of its extensive international touring. Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is believed to be the best known and most often seen modern dance performance. In 1977, Ailey was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. He...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionChoreographer
Date of Birth5 January 1931
CityRogers, TX
CountryUnited States of America
Its roots are in American Negro culture, which is part of the whole country's heritage, ... But the dance speaks to everyone. ... Otherwise it wouldn't work.
All of these dancers are dancers who are on the verge of their careers, so to speak. They're here to hone their artistry and make the transition from the classroom to the stage.
One of the processes of your life is to constantly break down that inferiority, to constantly reaffirm that I Am Somebody.
The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off; it's with you all the time.
We still spend more time chasing funds than we do in the studio in creative work.
I'm attracted to long-legged girls with long arms and a little head.
I always want to have more dancers in my company.
My feelings about myself have been terrible.
No matter what you write or choreograph, you feel it is not enough.
Lena Horne is the sweetest and most adorable woman in the world.
Money is a never-ending problem.
In this business, life is one long fund-raising effort.
No matter what you write or choreograph, you feel it's not enough.
Nothing personal; I just don't have people over.