Two dancers perform in a studio, each striking a dramatic pose with arms extended. The dancer on the left wears a black t-shirt and long black skirt, while the dancer on the right wears a purple t-shirt and black pants. The wall behind them features posters and a display board with various images and text.

Online Lessons

About

Ailey Arts In Education is committed to providing quality dance education and empowering students to take, make, and see dance—via online lessons in our Video Library.

Our technique-based approach to dance education, aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, provides a safe physical, emotional, and creative outlet for students of all ages and backgrounds. Experienced teaching artists conduct pre-recorded video packages, encouraging students to nurture their imagination, resilience, and joy while learning fundamental dance vocabulary and dynamic original choreography from the safety of their home or classroom.

Virtual Programs

For schools and organizations who are interested in a virtual dance program for their Pre-K through 12 youth, Ailey Arts In Education offers virtual dance packages that guide teachers and their students through an AILEY dance experience. See the options listed below.

Ailey AIE Video Library Residency Packages

Choose from a selection of video residency packages from the AAIE Video Library. Each residency package includes five lessons in a given dance technique, available for various age groups from Pre-K through Grade 12. Also available from the AAIE Video Library is an adapted version of our popular Percussion Lecture Demonstration, which introduces students to West African dance and percussion in a fun and informative 45-minute program. Video packages are available for limited-time use by schools and community organizations with their students; they are not available for individual use.

Creative Movement	Recommended for Pre-K through Grade 2
Creative Movement (Storytelling Focus)	Recommended for Pre-K through Grade 2
Jazz/Hip Hop	Recommended for Grades 3–5
West African	Recommended for Grades 3–5
Jazz	Recommended for Grades 6–8
West African	Recommended for Grades 6–8
Hip Hop	Recommended for Grades 9–12
Horton Modern	Recommended for Grades 9–12
Percussion Lecture Demonstration	Recommended for Grades K–3
Percussion Lecture Demonstration	Recommended for Grades 4–8

Revelations Virtual Dance Workshop Series

In this special video residency package, master teachers and former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater members Nasha Thomas and Michael Thomas lead a series of nine video lessons adapted from the Revelations: An Interdisciplinary Approach curriculum for middle school grades. These lessons emphasize students' creativity and artistic point of view, while building their dance knowledge through the lens of Alvin Ailey's signature ballet.

In each lesson, Nasha and Michael lead a warm-up, teach sections of an original "Warm-up Dance" combination, and demonstrate interdisciplinary activities inspired by Revelations. Along the way, students acquire essential dance vocabulary and concepts, learn history about Alvin Ailey and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and develop their unique perspective on dancemaking and other artistic and academic disciplines.

With purchase of the residency package, teachers will also receive a digital educator's guide complete with lesson plans, resources, and additional activities to guide the administration of the package to their students—plus, a digital student's study guide containing the handouts, worksheets, and readings associated with each lesson. Teachers of any subject area can easily guide their students through this interdisciplinary curriculum.

Video packages are available for limited-time use by schools and community organizations with their students; they are not available for individual use.

To request any of the virtual learning packages, please contact Cara Buchanan, Program Manager, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs at [email protected] or 212-405-9151.