Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey

1. Personal Life

   • Jan 5th 1931- Dec 1st 1989
   • Died of aids, but to spare his mother the social stigma attached to this it was broadcast the he had died from a terminal blood disease.
   • Born in Rogers, Texas when his mother was 17.
   • Saw first hand how badly African Americans were treated. (blood memories)

2. Lester Horton

   • At the age of 22 Ailey began full-time study at Horton's school, then went on to join the company in 1953, making his debut in Horton's Revue Le Bal Caribe.
   • Ailey studied other art forms, including painting, acting, music, set design, and costuming, as well as ballet and other forms of modern and ethnic dance.
   • After Horton's untimely death in 1953 Ailey assumed the role of artistic director
   • Ailey designed his first piece in memory of Horton. It was arranged to showcase James Truitte's physical strength and Carmen de Lavallade's beauty and dramatic abilities.

3. AAADT

   • First piece with his own company: Blues Suite, a work of intense emotional appeal expressing the pain and anger of African Americans.
     • Ailey was proud that his company was multi-racial, he gave opportunities to black dancers, who were frequently excluded from performances by racist attitudes at the time.
   • Pieces
     • Memoria
       • Dedicated to Joyce Trisler a dear friend of Ailey's when they were in the Horton Coompany together
       • Centred around a female dancer and two supporting males, then further more couples and evenutally the whole company.
       • Features characteristic high leg tilts and deep plies in 2nd. it is a very emotional piece
     • Cry
       • was made very quickly as a tribute to black women, about the struggles they faced through images of slavery and servitude.
         • A birthday present for his mother, choreographed especially for Judith Jameson
         • Uses a cloth, has pools of lighting like many of his other work and high leg swimgs, body ripples and african undertones.
     • Revelations
       • Shows Aileys Blood Memories, his childhood growing up in Texas. It also shows the Black cultures going on in a time of racism and segregation.
         • a series of episods set to spirtials and gospels.showing a variety of dynamics and props such as sticks with streamers on, an umberella and fans
         • High leg tilts, deep plies, torso rotations, rib and hip isolations, offering hand motions.

4. Style

   • Horton and Grahman technique important
     • Balletic and lyrical gestures
     • Social and jazz dances associated with African Americans
     • Leaps, high evelation, extentions and use of the floor
   • Highly theatrical, use of costume, lighting and set design
     • Pieces often narrative

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