How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey was an iconic symbol for modern dance during the 20th century. He broke barriers for African American performers and inspired many others. From being raised by a single mother in poverty, to establishing his own company, Alvin Ailey really made an impact in the world of modern dance. When Ailey passed away, The New York Times said of him, “you didn’t need to have known [him] personally to have been touched by his humanity, enthusiasm, and exuberance and his courageous stand for multi-racial brotherhood.” Ailey was born January 5, 1931 in Rogers, Texas to seventeen year old Lula Elizabeth Ailey. He grew up in a time where racism was at an all time high and segregation was seen everywhere. A traumatic experience Ailey went through during his childhood was the rape of his mother by a group of white men. It is known that Alvin Ailey was later on inspired by the black church services he attended as a child. At age twelve he moved from Texas to Los Angeles to join his mother who had migrated there a year previous to find a job supporting the war effort.

While in high school Ailey would write poetry and sing spirituals. He would also go to shows in local theatres such as the Orpheum theatre. Alvin began to show interest towards dance after a friend from school introduced him to the studio of Lester Horton in 1949. He studied there and eventually joined Horton’s company in 1953. Shortly after, Ailey had his debut performance in Horton’s ‘Revue Le Bal Caribe’. Horton became Alvin Ailey’s major influence and mentor. When Horton died Alvin became the artistic director of the company, being only twenty two years