ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

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ABOUT THE COMPANY
LEADERSHIP
DANCERS
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
BOOKING

A vital American Cultural Ambassador to the World

An unrivaled force, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is AILEY's world-renowned founding company.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

LEADERSHIP

DANCERS

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

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A group of dancers in bright clothing stand together

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Photo by Dario Calmese

A female dancer is perched on the shoulders of a male dancer who stands with his legs bent

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Constance Stamatiou and James Gilmer Photo by Dario Calmese

three women stand side by side on on the ball of their feet with their knees bent and arms reaching out

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Samantha Figgins, Constance Stamatiou, and Caroline T. Dartey Photo by Dario Calmese

A shirtless man wearing bright pink pants and holding a swath of red fabric jumps up into the aair

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Christopher R. Wilson Photo by Dario Calmese

A female dancer wearing a yellow tube top and pink pants jumps in the air holding a swath of pink fabric

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Caroline T. Dartey Photo by Dario Calmese

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Caroline T. Dartey and Chalvar Monteiro Photo by Dario Calmese

BOOKING

Three male dancers perform on stage against a red backdrop with abstract shadows. The dancers are shirtless, wearing black pants, and are posed dynamically with one dancer on the floor, one mid-air, and another extending an arm. The stage is lit with green and red lighting.

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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater reaches millions of audiences around the world. Support our work and help share dance that amplifies the African American experience.

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Founded by Alvin Ailey on March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the most acclaimed dance companies in the world. With a repertory that boasts close to 300 works by more than 100 choreographers, it has performed in more than 70 countries on six continents and has been designated a "vital American Cultural Ambassador to the World” by a US Congressional resolution.

Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity. As the Company grew, Mr. Ailey invited dancers of all backgrounds to be a part of his vision while reimagining his company as a “library of dance,” a home for a wide range of choreographers’ works that might otherwise be lost—the first modern dance company of its kind. He expanded the global audience for dance with his visionary model and technically dazzling works.

Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, who for 21 years brought the Company to unprecedented success—including two historic engagements in South Africa and a 50-city global tour celebrating Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 50th anniversary. In 2005, her idea of a permanent home for AILEY was realized with the opening of The Joan Weill Center for Dance, the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City. In 2011, she selected Robert Battle as her successor, who stewarded the Company until 2023 and inaugurated the New Directions Choreography Lab.

Today, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to bring joy and elation to audiences around the globe, while expanding its repertory with works by new choreographers and upholding Mr. Ailey’s legacy for future generations.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater gratefully acknowledges The Joan & Sandy Weill Global Ambassador Fund, which provides vital support for the Company’s national and international tours.