Alvin Ailey

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Alvin Ailey (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989) was an American dancer, director, and activist. In 1958, he founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). His work fused theater, modern dance, ballet, and jazz with Black vernacular. His work Revelations is one of the most performed ballets in the world.

Quotes on choreography

“I’m a choreographer. I create movement and I’m searching for truth in movement.”^[1]^[2]
"Making dances is an act of progress; it is an act of growth, an act of music, an act of teaching, an act of celebration, an act of joy."^[3]^[4]^[5]

Quotes on life

"One of the processes of your life is to constantly break down that inferiority, to constantly reaffirm that I Am Somebody."^[6]^[7]

Quotes on dancing

“I always felt that, that dance was a natural part of what I wanted to express, that what I can do with my body was a part, a very important part, of me and a way to release some of those things in myself that I had been looking for.”^[1]

References

↑ ^a ^b Lombardo, Cristiana (2022-01-04). Alvin Ailey quotes on life, dance and the Black experience | American Masters | PBS (in en-US). American Masters.
↑ Allen, Zita (2021-08-05). ‘Ailey’—Jamilla Wignot’s poignant portrait of a dance genius (in en-US). New York Amsterdam News.
↑ AileyDance Kids | Dance Education for NYC Schools | AILEY (in en). AileyDance Kids | Dance Education for NYC Schools | AILEY.
↑ Angelov, Vladimir (2023-08-30) (in en). You, the Choreographer: Creating and Crafting Dance. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-78244-8.
↑ Henry, Dollie; Jenkins, Paul (2019-10-18) (in en). The Essential Guide to Jazz Dance. The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-78500-636-4.
↑ Ailey, Alvin; Bailey, A. Peter (1995) (in en). Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey. Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-55972-255-1.
↑ Pine, Joslyn (2012-03-02) (in en). Book of African-American Quotations. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-11244-2.

[:0-1] Lombardo, Cristiana (2022-01-04). Alvin Ailey quotes on life, dance and the Black experience | American Masters | PBS (in en-US). American Masters.

[2] Allen, Zita (2021-08-05). ‘Ailey’—Jamilla Wignot’s poignant portrait of a dance genius (in en-US). New York Amsterdam News.

[3] AileyDance Kids | Dance Education for NYC Schools | AILEY (in en). AileyDance Kids | Dance Education for NYC Schools | AILEY.

[4] Angelov, Vladimir (2023-08-30) (in en). You, the Choreographer: Creating and Crafting Dance. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-78244-8.

[5] Henry, Dollie; Jenkins, Paul (2019-10-18) (in en). The Essential Guide to Jazz Dance. The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-78500-636-4.

[6] Ailey, Alvin; Bailey, A. Peter (1995) (in en). Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey. Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-55972-255-1.

[7] Pine, Joslyn (2012-03-02) (in en). Book of African-American Quotations. Courier Corporation. ISBN 978-0-486-11244-2.

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