Alvin Ailey Essays

  • Papers On Alvin Ailey

    774 Words  | 4 Pages

    Alvin Ailey Jr. is a well known African American choreographer. He is also known for founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater located in New York City. Alvin Ailey Jr. was also an activist of African American culture, that helped him shape the way he choreographed his modern dances. His early life had many obstacles that helped him become the man he was throughout his tenure. Alvin Ailey Jr. was born to Alvin and Lula Elizabeth Ailey on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas. His father, Alvin

  • Alvin Ailey Dance

    858 Words  | 4 Pages

    In America, Martha Graham (The Queen of Modern), Rudolph von Laban ( Time Energy and Space), and Alvin Ailey (Gospel or Lyrical Spiritual dance) developed and are developing for human movement and methods of instruction that led to the development of modern and expressionist dance. The reason that modern dance is so popular is because it 's the ability to move your body in a way that is comfortable to you. Also people in that time were trying to get out of the strictness of ballet and wanted to

  • Revelations Alvin Ailey Analysis

    1167 Words  | 5 Pages

    Revelations by Alvin Ailey invites the audience on a journey of grief, reverence and celebration. Inspired by Ailey’s memories from his childhood, Alvin Ailey was born in 1931 to a large extended family, in a small town in Texas (Study Guide: Alvin Ailey, 2008). Upon his parent’s separation and financial difficulties he moved to LA with his mother, where he became introduced to dance and eventually became one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century (Study Guide: Alvin Ailey, 2008). This

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    420 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater was created after a famous performance, led by Alvin Ailey and a group of African-American dancers in March 1958, dramatically changed how individuals viewed American dance. The theater’s goal was to celebrate the African-American culture and preserve the legacy of modern dance, which has since, been achieved through performances, “for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 28 states and 71 countries on six continents[...] (by) more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers

  • What Makes Alvin Ailey Popularize The Dance World

    681 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin Ailey was a widely-known American choreographer born on January 5, 1931. During Alvin Ailey’s life he was met with many challenges alongside many groundbreaking achievements. Not only was he a profound American choreographer known by the world he was also able to popularize modern dance. Him founding his own dance company was just another open door that acquainted him with many known pioneers in the dance industry. Even until his death on December 1,1989, Ailey was recognized for all of what

  • An Essay On Alvin Ailey

    526 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin Ailey is a famous pioneer dancer that was a choreographer. He was born in texas in 1931 and died in New York City of AIDS in 1989. He was birth by a teenage mother and grew up without a father figure. At the age of 12 he moved to Los Angeles and his gift was proven in many ways. He was really good at athletics. Alvin had many talents to get any type of career and he chose dancing out of all of them and made many accomplishments that some could not. After school he had joined a dance company

  • Alvin Ailey Essay

    559 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin Ailey was an African-American modern dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (http://www.alvinailey.org/about/people). His self-titled company was started in 1958 with the goal of preserving American modern dance while also evolving it through the addition of African American cultural aspects (abt). Ailey later founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, now The Ailey School, and the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, now Ailey II (http://www.alvinailey.org/about/people)

  • Alvin Ailey Essay

    1352 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Alvin Ailey modern dance company is known internationally for their works and dancers but how they began is a very interesting story. The company formed in 1958 and just two years later one of the most memorable and notable performances of the company was created, “.Revelations”. Although Alvin Ailey was the creator and director of this company, Ailey’s style and the technique he used and that the company still uses stems from Lester Horton. Horton was a pivotal teacher for Ailey and inspired

  • Essay On Alvin Ailey

    867 Words  | 4 Pages

    Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey was born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas. As known, Alvin Ailey is one of the leading figures in the 20th century modern dance. He was brought up single handedly by his young mother who was only a teenager then. He was brought up during the period of the Great Depression. A period of time where racial segregation, violence and lynchings against African Americans, prevailed. Ailey gained inspiration from the black church service he attended to as well as the music that

  • Analysis Of Cry By Alvin Ailey

    486 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alvin Ailey has cleverly used the importance of movement components throughout the second scene of his solo ‘Cry’, to successfully convey the intent of the dance and establish a connection between the audience and the dancer. As explained previously, the choreographic intent of this dance piece is to shine light on the hardships and struggles dealt with by African – American black women, while also highlighting their integrity and strength. Ailey has used a variety of both abstract and literal movements

  • Research Paper On Alvin Ailey

    1371 Words  | 6 Pages

    Alvin Ailey Jr. People have aspirations and dreams that they hope come true to create a positive impact on the world. A person who succeeds in this can be a hero who inspires and teaches others. Alvin Ailey had aspirations and dreams that he made come true when he introduced what African American people can do through dance. He created a new image of dance that had a positive impact by founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater that challenged societal expectations through the performing

  • Research Paper On Alvin Ailey

    1151 Words  | 5 Pages

    Alvin Ailey is a great choreographer and a leading figure in Modern dance. Ailey’s best-known masterwork was Revelations, a work which tells the story of African American persistence to fight for freedom. Alvin Ailey is my role model and someone I want to grow up and be like. Even though I have never had a chance to meet him, through his work and his interview, I can feel the passion and a tremendous love he has for dance (Retro JC). He also founded the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, which is located

  • Alvin Ailey Research Paper

    767 Words  | 4 Pages

    I picked to write about Alvin Ailey because I feel like this is the decade and generation that his legacy died in because when it comes to dance no one thinks of Ailey as the founding father his dancing is a lost art.. Alvin Ailey was an amazing dancer and choreographer with his own unique dance style. His talent was referenced in Fresh Prince of Bel Air and a different world his style is what makes him stand out from other choreographers. Alvin Ailey was not born with his name in lights he had a

  • Textual Analysis Of Water By Alvin Ailey

    2143 Words  | 9 Pages

    Since Alvin Ailey’s Revelations our American culture has changed in terms of access to technology and the opportunities social media provides choreographers such as the opportunity to perform in Justin Bieber’s Love Yourself music video. Keone and Mari Madrid are a married duo who had the opportunity to star in Justin Bieber’s music video and have created many other choreographies independently published on YouTube. I plan to focus on one video in particular that is part of a three video series titled

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    621 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin Ailey was one of the Pioneers of Dance. Alvin Ailey was well respected and cared for. He started off his spontaneous dance career when he debuted on broadway in 1954. It took him 4 years to develop his own dance company in 1958, which helps african americans to start off their massive and successful careers. From how he grew up to his death, in 1989, I will take you on a journey through his amazing dance career. Alvin Ailey grew up with one parent. His mother, Lula Elizabeth Ailey, was a

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    509 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alvin Ailey (1931-1989), American choreographer and activist became one of the leading figures in the 20th century modern dance. He began dance training at age of eleven. At this age he was learning classical, folk, social, and modern dances. He started studying extensive dance at the age of 19 with Lester Horton in 1949. He joined Lester’s dance company in 1950. After a few years, Alvin made his debut in the Broadway musical House of Flowers and in The Carefree Tree. He also had the opportunity

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    1349 Words  | 6 Pages

    times, dance is overlooked as a powerful form of expression. Choreographer, Alvin Ailey, has been greatly influential in both the dance world and society. He surpassed what he had hoped to accomplish by creating a unique style of movement, having a resounding impact on the world of modern dance, founding his dance company and accomplishing praiseworthy works that has inspired many to carry on his legacy. When Alvin Ailey Jr. was about six months old, his father had left the family. This was the

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    1279 Words  | 6 Pages

    On January 5th, 1931 Alvin Ailey was born in the city of Rogers, Texas. His mother was a teen and his father was a labor worker. When Ailey was less than a year old, his father left him and his mother. With his mother being young and having no husband to help raise a child, Ailey grew up in a lower class community. This came in a time of segregation when advancement for people of color and women were small. As he got older, he was inspired by the black church services that would later serve as an

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    908 Words  | 4 Pages

    choreography all over the world? In a time, with racial pressures and financial woes, Alvin Ailey found an outlet with dancing. In the 1960s and 1970s, modern dance was shaped into a popular art form by Alvin Ailey. Alvin created over 60+ dances for his dance troupe such as Blues Suite, Masakala Language, Night Creature, and Revelations. Like many who followed, Alvin Ailey became famous with his ambition and perseverance. Alvin Ailey’s ambition was evident him using dance to become successful at a time few

  • How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

    475 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey was an iconic symbol for modern dance during the 20th century. He broke barriers for African American performers and inspired many others. From being raised by a single mother in poverty, to establishing his own company, Alvin Ailey really made an impact in the world of modern dance. When Ailey passed away, The New York Times said of him, “you didn’t need to have known [him] personally to have been touched by his humanity, enthusiasm, and exuberance and his courageous stand