Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in order to bring African-American culture and American modern dance to the world. Since its founding in 1958, The Ailey Theater has performed 235 different works.

Videos from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

The Pleasure of the Lesson

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:55 Performing Arts

Dancers perform to "'Tis Winter" by SoVoSo and more.

Robert Battle's We

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:51 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Robert Battle, dancers perform to a melancholy jazz score.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:45 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Ulysses Dove, dancers perform to Laurie Anderson and Peter Gabriel's "Excellent Birds" and "Gravity's Angel."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:25 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Ronald K. Brown, dancers perform to Paul Johnson's "Bless It," Roy Davis Jr.'s "Rock Shock" and Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday."

The External Knot

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:17 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Troy Powell, dancers perform to Kronos Quartet's "String Quartet No. 5:I," Janos Starker's "Dreaming (Traumerei)" and The Philip Glass Ensemble's "Funeral From Akhnaten."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:21 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Rennie Harris, dancers perform to Dennis Ferrer's "Underground Is My Home" and more in this tribute to house music.

Paul Taylor's Arden Court

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 03:03 Performing Arts

Dancers perform to I Solisti Di Zagreb's "No. 5. In D Major: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo; Allegro Assai," "No. 1. In B Flat Major: II. Moderator E Dolce," "No. 8. In D Minor: II. Largo (Andante)" and I Solisti Di Zagreb and Antonio Janigro's "Symphony No. 3 In C Major: II. Vivace."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 03:06 Performing Arts

Dancers perform to "This Little Light of Mine," "There's a Hole In the Bucket," "Motherless Children" by Odetta and more.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:37 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Kyle Abraham, dancers perform to Common featuring The Last Poet's "The Corner" and Donny Hathaway's "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."

The Making of Odetta Part 2

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 05:41 Performing Arts

Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle and choreographer Matthew Rushing discuss bringing the ballet about the life of Odetta Holmes into fruition by using musical theater, prison songs, work songs, folk, gospel, jazz, country and blues music.

The Legacy of Inheritance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:23 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Stefanie Batten Bland, dancers perform to Zoe Keating's "We Insist," Stars of the Lid's "Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage" and Nature Sounds' "Sustained Shimmering Wind."

The Making of Odetta Part 1

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:33 Performing Arts

Choreographer Matthew Rushing talks about the creation of a ballet dedicated to writer-musician and activist Odetta Holmes, known as The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:38 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins, dancers perform to Moby's "Grace," "God Moving Over the Face of the Waters" and a percussion-heavy score.

D-Man In The Waters Part 1

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:55 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Bill T. Jones, dancers perform to Mendelssohn's "Octet in E Flat, Op.20: 1. Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco" in this army-themed sequence.

Cuore Sott'olio

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:47 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Katarzyna Skarpetowska and inspired by Polish heritage, Cuore Sott'olio is a tale of a woman who revisits her past three relationships featuring Vinicio Capossela's "Corre Il Soldato."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 03:01 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Jiri Kylian, dancers perform to Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 21 In C, K.467-2. Andante" and "Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, K.488-2. Adagio."

Wings at Ailey II

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:53 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Jennifer Archibald, dancers perform to experimental, ethereal score.

Reference Point

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:35 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Troy Powell, dancers perform to Daniel Rateuke's "Bakgat" and experimental and industrial dance music.

Teen Extension Contemporary Jazz

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:57 Performing Arts

Teen students gain confidence learning jazz, modern dance and ballet in Alvin Ailey's classes, available for beginners to the experienced.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:35 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Ronald K. Brown, dancers perform to Yacoub's "Da Na Ma (Manoo Remix)."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:35 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Robert Battle, a dancer performs to Sheila Chandra's "Speaking In Tongues II."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:19 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Robert Battle, dancers perform to a drum- and violin-heavy score.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:17 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Robert Battle, dancers perform to a drum-heavy score.

Talking About The Pleasure of the Lesson

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:48 Performing Arts

Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle discusses choreographer Robert Moses and his innovative, expressive style in his first collaboration with the dance troupe.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:46 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Hans van Manen, Artistic Director Robert Battle discusses the performance comprised of dances that signify hellos and goodbyes in this colorful, geometric piece scored by Henyrk Gorecki.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:30 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Ohad Naharin, dancers perform to The Tractor's Revenge and Ohad Naharin's "Echad Mi Yodea" and Vivaldi's "Cum Dederit (Andante)."

The Making of Lift

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 03:20 Performing Arts

Dancer-choreographer Aszure Barton talks about how she and composer Curtis Macdonald were inspired by Ailey dancers to create "Lift."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:29 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Kyle Abraham, dancers perform to Art Blakey's "A Night In Tunisia."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:56 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Judith Jamison, dancers perform to Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares' "Dragana I Slavei (Dragana's Song)" and DJ Whitesmith's "Detoxify Mad."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:21 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Joyce Trisler, a dancer performs to New York Philharmonic's "The Unanswered Question for Trumpet, Flute Quartet and Strings."

Troy Powell Discusses Wings

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:33 Performing Arts

A ballad between humans and angels, a discussion of Jennifer Archibald's choreography of "Wings," which mixes hiphop and contemporary styles.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:04 Performing Arts

Ailey dancers perform Africa-inspired dance choreographed by Garth Fagan.

Troy Powell Discusses We

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:52 Performing Arts

The work of choreographer Robert Battle in "We," a duet emphasizing relationships and connectedness.

Behind the Scenes of Cuore Sott'olio

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:36 Performing Arts

Inspired by Polish heritage, Cuore Sott'olio is a tale of a woman who revisits her past three relationships.

Behind the Scenes of Suspended Women

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 03:53 Performing Arts

Choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi and Artistic Director Robert Battle talk about creating drama behind the characters of Suspended Women, who are archetypes of women throughout history and drawing inspiration from William Blake to Frida Kahlo.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:58 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Aszure Barton, dancers perform to original music inspired by African drum beats.

Three Black Kings

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:17 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to jazz music.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:46 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Duke Ellington's "The River Suite: V. Vortex" and "The River Suite: III. Giggling Rapids."

Streams at Ailey II

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:42 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Miloslav Kabeláč & Maurice Ohana's "Inventions, Op.45: Diabolico."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:43 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Miloslav Kabeláč & Maurice Ohana's "Inventions, Op.45: Scherzo" and more.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:21 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Duke Ellington's "Such Sweet Thunder" and "Sonnet to Hank Cinq."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 04:14 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Jay McShann's "Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You," Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You," Laura Nyro's "Been On a Train," The Voices of East Harlem's "Right On Be Free" and Donald Byrd's "Flight-Time."

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:09 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Alvin Ailey, dancers perform to Laura Nyro's "Been On a Train" and The Voices of East Harlem's "Right On Be Free."

Hip-Hop at the Ailey Extension

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 01:01 Performing Arts

Get a workout or learn to dance in hiphop, pop and locking, breakdancing, funk, house and African styles at Alvin Ailey's classes.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 02:58 Performing Arts

Choreographed by Adam Barruch, dancers perform to Raime's "Your Cast Will Tire" and more.

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Get Involved

Want to get more involved with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre? Check out one of their membership opportunities. Depending on the level you choose, you'll have access to exclusive rewards like passes to an open rehearsal, a complimentary class at the Ailey Studios, discounted Ailey merchandise and more! Plus, your membership fee goes toward providing props for performances, scholarships for Ailey students and free tickets to a performance for underprivileged youth.

You may not be an Ailey dancer, but that doesn't mean you can't learn how to dance like one. From hip-hop to ballet, the Ailey Extension offers classes 7 days a week that are open to the public. Beginner, intermediate and advanced level dancers are all welcome to attend a class. If you're less concerned about learning technique, try out one of their fun workout classes like Zumba Fitness, Power Ashtanga Yoga or the Kukuwa African Dance Workout.

See Ailey Extension Class Schedule

 

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