The Ailey School Faculty
Ailey Extension Instructor
Sarita Allen has had the career most performers only dream about. The classically-trained Seattle native auditioned for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (now known as The Ailey School) on a lark and received a scholarship. Handpicked by Alvin Ailey, she became an original member of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (now called Ailey II), and a year later joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In her first season, Mr. Ailey created lead roles for Allen in two Ellington premieres: The Mooche (opposite Ailey veterans Judith Jamison, Estelle Spurlock, and Sara Yarborough) and Night Creature. These ballets set the tone for her Ailey tenure with leading roles, and outstanding performances including galas at The Paris Opera, the Acropolis, the Great Pyramids of Giza, The Kennedy Center, and at the White House for two U.S. presidents.
Allen was an original member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and is currently serves as an artistic advisor. Her career extends beyond the concert dance genre. She performed in the motion pictures Angel Heart and The Cotton Club, and The Jacksons’ music video of their song “Torture." She also choreographed Elton John's Aida for Big League Production tours.
An Ailey Extension faculty member since its inception, Allen began teaching Revelations master classes in 2010 and developed her “labor of love,” the Ailey Barre technique. A teacher, dance legend, choreographer, and Ailey ambassador, she shares the AILEY experience nationwide. As a consultant and member of the HBO Wellness team, Allen designed and implemented the HBO Pilates program. Allen’s wellness and fitness work has been acknowledged in fitness publications including Self Magazine, Fit Life, and Very Well, the number one online fitness reference.
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