Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancing at the top of Rockefeller Center's center spire, with the New York City skyline in the background

POSTED November 5, 2026

New York Moves You

This year, AILEY partnered with Rockefeller Center for a series of collaborative projects and public offerings that brought New York City’s iconic skyline to life.

Rise – A Short Film by AILEY and Rockefeller Center

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater appeared in the short film, Rise, a collaboration between AILEY at Rockefeller Center. Performing choreography adapted by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing, the dancers appeared on Rockefeller Center’s famous plaza and observation deck at Top of the Rock.

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, posing in front of 30 Rockefeller Center tower with their heads stacked one on top of another

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater lying together at Top of the Rock, with a high view of New York City's rooftops below them

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Four members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater standing along the edge of the fountain in front of the gilded Prometheus statue at Rockefeller Center.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Y. Lebrun, C. Wilson, S. Daley-Perdomo, and I. Day in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancing at Rockefeller Center's Top of the Rock, with the New York City skyline in the background

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's C. Wilson, S. Daley-Perdomo, and Y. Lebrun in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancing at Rockefeller Center's Top of the Rock, with the New York City skyline in the background

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's C. Stamatiou, Y. Lebrun, and C. Wilson in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Ailey dancer Isaiah Day dancing in front of Rockefeller Center

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Isaiah Day in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Rise at Rockefeller Center Photo by Philipp Paulus

Free Classes in the Plaza

Master Teacher Nasha Thomas teaching the Revelations Celebration workshop at the Rockefeller Center Plaza — Master Teacher Nasha Thomas teaching the *Revelations* Celebration Workshop at the Rockefeller Center Plaza Photo by Toby Tenenbaum

AILEY offered free public dance classes on three Saturdays, where people of all ages were invited to dance.

AileyCamp National Director Nasha Thomas taught a Revelations Celebration Workshop. Participants learned excerpts from one of the most beloved works of modern dance and experienced the movement of Revelations with live music by a percussionist.

Participants in the Revelations Celebration Workshop at the Rockefeller Center Plaza

Participants in the Revelations Celebration Workshop at Rockefeller Center Photo by Toby Tenenbaum

Master Teacher Nasha Thomas with participants in the Revelations Celebration workshop at the Rockefeller Center Plaza

Master Teacher Nasha Thomas with participants in the Revelations Celebration Workshop at Rockefeller Center Photo by Toby Tenenbaum

Participants in the Revelations Celebration Workshop at Rockefeller Center Photo by Toby Tenenbaum

Legendary hip hop artist and dance instructor TweetBoogie got everyone on beat in her fun and energetic Hip Hop class, while others immersed themselves in the flirtatious energy and dynamic partnering of NY Style Mambo, a fusion of New York and Cuban dance, led by Ailey Extension teaching artist Katherine Jiménez.

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Hip Hop with TweetBoogie at Rockefeller Center

Students dancing in an Afro'Dance class at the Ailey Studios

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Hero Credit: Photo by Philipp Paulus