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A group of dancers, including students and instructors in Alvin Ailey t-shirts, stand on stage with their arms raised high. They are performing a synchronized movement, all looking upward, showcasing unity and focus. The backdrop is a black curtain, emphasizing their poses.

'Revelations': An Interdisciplinary Approach

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About the Residency

Alvin Ailey’s life and signature work, Revelations, serve as an organizing theme for learning experiences in dance, language arts and social studies. It invites students to embody and experience on a personal level the universal themes and emotions of trial, triumph, jubilance, and hope, found in Mr. Ailey’s masterwork.

This curriculum for middle school students links dance to students’ academic curricula including  language arts and social studies. It is designed to enrich vocabulary, with prompts for poetry, journal writing, reports, and critical reviews. The Revelations curriculum is grounded in New York State and National Learning  Standards and aligned with the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Grades6–9
LocationStudio/gym/auditorium
DurationNational Residencies are 1-week and AileyDance Kids Residences are eight weeks minimum; both include a professional development workshop for educators
Student Capacity35 maximum per class
AvailabilityOctober–June
A dance instructor in a navy Alvin Ailey t-shirt and black sweatpants leads a group of students in a dance routine. The instructor strikes a low, dynamic pose, with the students behind mimicking the movement. The scene is energetic, with focused expressions and coordinated movements.

Nasha Thomas teaching a Revelations Residency at Richmond Heights Middle School Photo by Justin Namon

A dance instructor in a gray Alvin Ailey t-shirt leads a large group in a dance workshop, performing a dramatic pose with his head tilted back and arms extended. The participants in the background mirror his movements. The photo is credited to David Polston 2023.

AAIE's Amos Machanic leading a Revelations Celebration workshop at the Virginia Arts Festival Photo by David Polston

A dance instructor in a gray Alvin Ailey t-shirt leads a large group of participants in a dance workshop. The instructor strikes a dynamic pose, emphasizing movement. The participants in the background mirror his actions, creating a unified scene of focused activity. The photo is credited to David Polston 2023.

AAIE's Amos Machanic leading a Revelations Celebration workshop at the Virginia Arts Festival Photo by David Polston

Scheduling & Contact Info

For more information about our programming, and/or to schedule an Ailey Arts In Education activity, please contact:  

Stacey Spencer-Willoughby  
Assistant, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs  
Phone: 212-405-9152
[email protected] 

Contact Us

AileyDance Kids Residencies
National Residencies
Night Creature Curriculum

Hero Credits: Photo by Justin Namon, Photo by Justin Namon