How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance
Alvin Ailey was a prevalent modern dance choreographer in the 20th century known for breaking down the racial barriers within dance. Born in Rodgers, Texas and growing up around the era of social rebellion and the fight for reconstruction of cultural stereotypes, Alvin Ailey’s company played an important role in the civil rights movement. Founding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in December 1958, Ailey brought the vision of greater racial equality and used his modern dance as a platform for both his personal and cultural expression. Through the medium of dance, Alvin Ailey emerged African American aesthetic, fostered awareness for the need of multi-racial modern dance, and pioneered dance as a political and social movement. Ailey made a point of producing the works of black choreographers and musicians, focusing his productions on black American themes. He claimed he wanted to start …show more content…
This led to “sexually licentious stereotypes that the Europeanist perspective attributed to Africanist dance.” However, Alvin Ailey aimed to diverge the social limitations that were imposed on black dancers to simply perform “black dances” and incorporate them within the white dances such as ballet and modern. Within his choreographies, Ailey used polycentricism, movement that emanates from any part of the body, such that two or more centers may operate simultaneously. His dances incorporated both striking and soft movements using both the modern dance classic techniques and incorporating percussive attacks of jazz and social dance movements. In one of his first productions Blue Suites (1958), the representation of real people was displayed in the choreography while using the polyrhythmic technique and Ephebism of African
Janet Fay Collins: The African-American Dream
661 Words | 3 PagesThis goes to show that if you were not white it was hard to be a dancer in those times. These two examples show clearly the color barriers that African-American dancers faced on a day-to-day basis. The color barriers made it hard for African American dancers to prosper in the world of
How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance
621 Words | 3 PagesAlvin Ailey was one of the Pioneers of Dance. Alvin Ailey was well respected and cared for. He started off his spontaneous dance career when he debuted on broadway in 1954. It took him 4 years to develop his own dance company in 1958, which helps african americans to start off their massive and successful careers. From how he grew up to his death, in 1989, I will take you on a journey through his amazing dance career.
How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance
420 Words | 2 PagesThe Alvin Ailey Dance Theater was created after a famous performance, led by Alvin Ailey and a group of African-American dancers in March 1958, dramatically changed how individuals viewed American dance. The theater’s goal was to celebrate the African-American culture and preserve the legacy of modern dance, which has since, been achieved through performances, “for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 28 states and 71 countries on six continents[...] (by) more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers,” (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater). Alvin Ailey, born in Texas, grew up knowing that his experiences living in the South would have some influence on his works later on his life. In Los Angeles, Ailey began to dance when he discovered the beauty of dance by the performances of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Katherine Dunham Dance Company. Soon after, his friend persuaded Ailey to join a class in one of the first racially-integrated dance studios which existed in the United States, led by Leston Horton.
What Makes Alvin Ailey Popularize The Dance World
681 Words | 3 PagesAiley being an American choreographer shows how he was able to become a household name in the dance world. Ailey choreographed over 80 ballets which easily illustrates how Ailey became an acknowledged figure in his community. Ailey’s most popular show Revelations is being performed till this day which shows how Ailey was able to leave a historical footprint on the dance world. Ailey's choreographic masterpiece Revelations is believed to be the best known and most often seen modern dance performance in history.
Meli'sa Thesis
46 Words | 1 PagesMeli’sa’ thesis provided supportive research regarding the history and successful dance therapy interventions for working with African American male youth. As an African American, I think it is important to provide other dance therapist information for working with African American and educate them about our culture.
How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance
619 Words | 3 PagesHis choreography was like nothing the world has seen as it has popularized multicultural modern dance for the world. His most famous piece is called revelations and is being performed to this day by his school of young students and it has been performed for people globally. Since his theatre was founded his students has performed for more than 20 million people not counting tv viewers. Last, ailey’s achievements has earn him the number 4 spot on the list for best choreographers in
Alvin Ailey Research Paper
767 Words | 4 PagesThe U.S State Department backing was backing the troupe Ailey's company was the first modern dance group to visit the former Soviet Union since the 1920s. The company was asked to return to New York after a piece performed by Judith Jamison she made it one of their best known pieces. The piece was called "Cry" this was the piece that was featured on the episode "Mammy Dearest" on the show A different Word and Kim performed it after feeling offended about the image of Mammy and black women. The piece was dedicated to all black women everywhere especially our mothers, it depicts the struggles of different generations of black American Women. It begins with the unwrapping of a long white scarf during the course of the dance the dancer becomes a queen, mother, daughter, and other things.
A Brief Review Of The 24th Annual Sacramento/Black Art Of Dance
212 Words | 1 PagesThe 24th Annual Sacramento/Black Art of Dance occurred on February 18th-28th, 2016 at the California State University of Sacramento at Solano Hall 1010, home to many of Sacramento State 's Department of Theatre & Dance performances. Sacramento/Black Art of Dance is a modern dance company that follows the footsteps of Katherine Dunham. S/BAD not only carries on the tradition of Black Concert dance in America, but also explores the movement culture of the African and African-American diaspora in the concepts of modern dance. Ancestral Voices, which directed mainly by Linda Goodrich, presented by S/BAD in its 24th year of presenting dance to pay homage to ancestors who have come before us through the language of dance. The concert had two acts
Essay On African Americans
1065 Words | 5 PagesOver the course of many years, African Americans have influenced communities in many ways. African Americans have been used as slaves and segregated. After overcoming these struggles, they later were granted freedoms and rights. Many African American individuals have overcome these hard times and worked hard to achieve their dreams. Misty Copeland, Patricia Bath, and Madam C.J. Walker are courageous African-American women who have overcome racial stereotypes because of their determination to pursue what they love; Misty Copeland’s determination led her to pursue dance, and Patricia Bath and Madam C.J. Walker were strong, African American entrepreneurs.
Segregation During The Gilded Age
752 Words | 4 PagesIn the 1920s the African American was starting in earnest to place his or her stamp on American culture as a whole. It is in the era the seeds of revolution were planted that would bear fruit in the Civil Rights era of the mid 20th century. As the African Americans in New Orleans did make jazz the African Americans in New York and Chicago made Jazz what it is today and it helped many people see that what they live in is not what the have to stay
Analysis Of Alvin Ailey's Cry
2321 Words | 10 PagesIn 1971, Alvin Ailey choreographed Cry, a three part work solo dance set to gospel music that describes an emotional journey filled with struggle, hardships, defeat, survival and joy. It was intended as a birthday present to Alvin’s mother and a dedication to all black women everywhere. The first part of the dance is the struggle of trying to maintain pride irrespective of the opposition faced from outside. The second part reveals the sorrow within after the woman’s pride has been shattered into pieces and finally the third part is a spirited celebration of finding strength and joy in God. Even though cry was dedicated to only black women, i argue the notion that all women both black and white of the nineteenth century could relate
Silent Dancing Judith Ortiz Cofer Analysis
730 Words | 3 PagesSampson Paquette Professor Edwards ENGL101C 9-13-2016 The Dance The essay: “Silent Dancing” By Judith Ortiz Cofer reflects on the transitional period in her life where herself and her immediate family made the move from Puerto Rico to the Big Apple, otherwise known as New York city. The timeline for the essay was set in the 1950’s where cultural fusion and blatant racism ran rampant in the streets.
A Rhetorical Analysis Of Alvin Ailey's Cry
1222 Words | 5 PagesChoreographer Alvin Ailey expresses the story of the labored, broken, yet courageous black woman, though lengthy arm extensions and torso contractions that are combined with his signature style of ballet, modern dance, and African technique. Alvin Ailey trained dancers have a way of dancing bigger than the audience could ever imagine by embodying the real life struggles Alvin himself witnessed This type of character outpouring births a spiritual intimacy or soul connection between dancer and choreography and finally audience and dancer. A dance genius in his own right, Alvin Ailey was born on January 5, 1931 in a small town in Texas. His 17-year-old mother would soon know the struggles of being a single mother in the segregated south just months after Alvin was born.
Duke Ellington's Music Analysis
869 Words | 4 PagesIn the 1920s and 1930s, a large movement of art and literature took place in the city of Harlem. Many African American authors express their thoughts and ideas through anyway possible. Whether it be music, art, or literature, its impact gave the African Americans a new place in society. One composer of music was very influential to all people. His name is Duke Ellington.
Archibald Motleys Art Analysis
877 Words | 4 PagesIt was a moment when modern African American culture took people's imagination. According to Coleman, F. (1995), “No one captured visually the essence of African-American life in the 1920s and 1930s as vividly or faithfully as did Archibald Motley” (para. 2). Archibald Motley was a visual artist who took part in that period and expressed his art well. He has paintings from all aspects of his career. From the time he was in college at the Art Institute of
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