SchoolTime Study Guide - Cal Performances - University of ...

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Alvin Ailey American Dance TheaterFor over 50 years, Alvin Ailey AmericanDance Theater has brought African Americancultural expression and the American moderndance tradition to the world’s stages.Mr. Ailey founded his company in 1958.Over the next 10 years, he created approximately20 ballets, among them Revelations (1960).He ensured that the company’s repertory alsoincluded works by dance pioneers and emergingchoreographers. Over the past 50 years, thecompany has produced more than 180 works by77 choreographers. Performing for an estimated19 million people in 48 states, 68 countries and onsix continents, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaterhas earned a reputation as one of the most popularinternational ambassadors of American culture.The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center wasfounded in 1969 with an initial enrollment of 125students. Today, over 3,500 dance students fromevery part of the world receive training there.This diverse group of students contributes to amulticultural richness that is unique among danceschools.In 1974, Ailey formed the Repertory Ensemble,now called Ailey II as a way for talented students tomake the leap from studio to stage.The company has a long-standing involvementin arts education, including a unique nationalprogram called AileyCamp. AileyCamp bringsunderserved youngsters to a full-scholarshipsummer day camp that combines dance classes withpersonal development, creative writing classes andfield trips. The Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp at CalPerformances is now in its tenth year.6 |
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989)Born in Rogers, Texas, on January 5, 1931, AlvinAiley spent his formative years going to SundaySchool and participating in the Baptist Young PeoplesUnion – experiences that later inspired Revelations.Mr. Ailey began his formal dance training inLos Angeles motivated by performances of theKatherine Dunham Dance Company and classeswith Lester Horton. Horton, the founder of thefirst racially integrated dance company in theUnited States, was a catalyst for Ailey’s career.After Horton’s death in 1953, Ailey became thedirector of the Horton Dance Theater and began tochoreograph his own works. Soon after, he foundedthe Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.Alvin Ailey died on December 1, 1989, andwith his death American dance lost one of its mostluminous stars. Anna Kisselgoff of The New YorkTimes wrote “You didn’t need to have known Alvinpersonally to have been touched by his humanity,enthusiasm and exuberance and his courageousstand for multiracial brotherhood.”Judith Jamison, Artistic DirectorA native of Philadelphia , Judith Jamison becamea member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in1965 and danced with the company for 15 years togreat acclaim. She was appointed Artistic Directorof Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in December1989 at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey. Whennamed Artistic Director of the Company, she said“I view this appointment as the course to take tocontinue my vision and keep Mr. Ailey’s vision alive.”For 22 years, Judith Jamison has presided overan artistically and fiscally vibrant Ailey organization.Following Mr. Ailey’s ideals, Ms. Jamison has beendedicated to asserting the prominence of the arts inour culture, spearheading initiatives to bring danceinto the community and programs that introducechildren to the arts. She remains committed topromoting the Ailey legacy—dance as a mediumfor honoring the past, celebrating the present andfearlessly reaching into the future.Robert Battle, Artistic DirectorDesignateIn July 2011, Robert Battle will succeed JudithJamison as Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey AmericanDance Theater, becoming only the third person tohead the Company since its founding by Mr. Ailey in1958. In announcing her selection, Ms. Jamison saidthat “choosing Robert Battle is the giant leap I want totake to ensure that this company stays vibrant in thefuture.” Mr. Battle has already had a long associationwith the Ailey organization, as a choreographer andan artist-in-residence.Raised in Miami, Florida, he first began studyingmodern dance in high school, continuing on to graduatefrom The Juilliard School with a degree in Dance. Mr.Battle danced with the Parsons Dance Company from1994 to 2001, and began setting his own choreographyin 1998. Shortly thereafter he founded his ownBattleworks Dance Company. He has created newworks and restaged ballets for diverse and prestigiouscompanies, and regularly conducts residencies and givesmaster classes around the globe.SchoolTime Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | 7
Page 1: 2010-2011SeasonSchoolTime Study Gui
Page 4: Table of Contents1. Theater Etiquet
Page 7 and 8: Alvin AileyAfter Ailey’s death in
Page 9: The Inspiration for RevelationsReve
Page 15 and 16: 3. ENTERTAINMENT. At the end of a l
Page 17 and 18: 6Learning ActivitiesDance (Grades 3
Page 19 and 20: Movements to Watch for In Revelatio
Page 21 and 22: 7 GlossaryBallet: A dance form star
Page 23 and 24: Cal Performances thanks the followi

SchoolTime Study Guide - Cal Performances - University of ...

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