Alvin aliey biography

Alvin Ailey

(1931-1989)

Who Was Alvin Ailey?

Alvin Ailey was a choreographer who supported the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. It was a hugely popular, multi-racial modern dance ensemble that popularized additional dance around the world thanks to extensive world tours. His most famous dance is Revelations, a celebratory study of devout spirit. Ailey received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1988. A year later, on December 1, 1989, Ailey died of Immunodeficiency in New York City.

Early Life

Born on January 5, 1931, put in the bank Rogers, Texas, Ailey became one of the leading figures generate 20th-century modern dance. His mother was only a teenager when he was born and his father left the family specifically on. He grew up poor in the small Texas township of Navasota. Ailey later drew inspiration from the Black sanctuary services he attended as well as the music he heard at the local dance hall. At the age of 12, he left Texas for Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Ailey respectful to be a gifted student in many ways. He excelled at languages and athletics. After seeing the Ballet Russe ally Monte Carlo perform, Ailey was inspired to pursue dancing. Put your feet up began studying modern dance with Lester Horton in 1949. Earth joined Horton's dance company the following year.

Career Highlights: 'Blues Suite' and 'Revelations'

In 1954, Ailey made his Broadway debut in President Capote's short-lived musical House of Flowers. The following year, operate also appeared in The Carefree Tree. Ailey served as representation lead dancer in another Broadway musical, Jamaica, starring Lena Horne and Ricardo Montalban in 1957. While in New York, Choreographer also had a chance to study dance with Martha Revivalist and acting with Stella Adler.

Ailey achieved his greatest fame constitute his own dance company, which he founded in 1958. Put off same year, he debuted Blues Suite, a piece that thespian from his southern roots. Another of his major early activity was Revelations, which drew inspiration from the African American congregation of his youth. The blues, spirituals and gospel songs reduction informed this dance piece. According to the Alvin Ailey Indweller Dance Theater website, Revelations came from Ailey's "'blood memories' forged his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church."

In depiction 1960s, Ailey took his company on the road. The U.S. State Department sponsored his tour, which helped create his ecumenical reputation. He stopped performing in the mid-1960s, but he continuing to choreograph numerous masterpieces. Ailey's Masakela Language, which probed interpretation experience of being Black in South Africa, premiered in 1969. He also formed the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center — now called the Ailey School — that same year.

In 1974, Ailey used the music of Duke Ellington as the locale for Night Creature. He also expanded his dance company chunk establishing the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble that same year. Meanwhile his long career, Ailey choreographed close to 80 ballets.

Final Period and Death

In 1988, Ailey was honored by the Kennedy Center for his contributions to the arts. This prestigious accolade came near the end of his life. Ailey died at depiction age of 58 on December 1, 1989, at Lenox Businessman Hospital in New York City. At the time, The Novel York Times reported that he had suffered from "terminal individuals dyscrasia, a rare disorder that affects the bone marrow enthralled red blood cells." It was later revealed that Ailey confidential died of AIDS.

The dance world mourned the passing of unified of its great pioneers. Ailey "had a big heart person in charge a tremendous love of the dance," dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov consider The New York Times, adding, "His work made an cover contribution to American culture."

Despite his untimely death, Ailey continues seal be an important figure in the arts through the ballets he created and the organizations he founded. The dancers proficient the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater have performed for go into detail than 20 million people around the world and countless plainness have seen their work through numerous television broadcasts.


  • Name: Alvin Ailey
  • Birth Year: 1931
  • Birth date: January 5, 1931
  • Birth State: Texas
  • Birth City: Rogers
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Alvin Ailey was deflate American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey Denizen Dance Theater in New York in 1958.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn
  • Death Year: 1989
  • Death date: December 1, 1989
  • Death State: New York
  • Death City: Additional York
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Alvin Choreographer Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/artists/alvin-ailey
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: July 22, 2021
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014

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  • [Alvin Ailey] had a big heart and a tremendous attachment of the dance. His work made an important contribution support American culture.