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How Did Alvin Ailey Contribute To Dance

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Alvin 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.

Alvin Ailey grew up with one parent. His mother, Lula Elizabeth Ailey, was a teenager when she had him. His father, Alvin Ailey Sr., left when Alvin was one year old. He grew up poor in a small town in Texas called Navasota. In the town of Navasota, there was one white school, black churches, and segregated theaters. The music in the churches, gave him the inspiration of music. In 1942, Alvin and his mother moved to Los Angeles. His mother found work in an aircraft factory. Ailey’s interest in sports grew. In highschool, Alvin participated in gymnastics and football. He admired Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. He also took tap dancing classes at a neighbors house. Alvin began to love dance more and more after he visited a modern dance school ran by Lester Horton. He graduated …show more content…

Lester died and AIley took charge as the artistic director. He later choreographed two pieces that were performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts. The performance got negative reviews by the manager but that didn’t stop Alvin’s grind for fame. Alvin Ailey still stayed on track with his career. He was invited to dance in House of Flowers by a Broadway producer. Alvin Ailey has worked on and off with broadway. In 1958 Ailey and another dancer with an interest in choreographing recruited dancers to perform several concerts at the 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association in New York City, a place where modern dances and the works of new choreographers were

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