Alvin Ailey in Dallas Tonight

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, founded in 1958, emerged from a performance at the 92nd Street Young Men's Hebrew Association in New York City, forever changing American dance. Alvin Ailey, born in Rogers, Texas, in 1931, drew inspiration from his childhood in the South, including gospel music and the Black church experience. Ailey's choreography blends ballet, modern dance, jazz, and African dance techniques. He insisted on a complete theatrical experience, incorporating costumes, lighting, and makeup into his productions. The company's repertoire includes over 235 works by more than 90 choreographers, with Ailey himself creating 79 dances. His most famous piece, "Revelations," has been seen by an estimated 23 million people in 71 countries, making it the most-watched modern dance work. Alicia Graf Mack is the current Artistic Director, with Matthew Rushing as Associate Artistic Director. The company is currently on tour, bringing its blend of classic and contemporary works to audiences worldwide. Tonight's performance at the Winspear Opera House features "Blink of an Eye," "Grace," "A Case of You," and "Revelations". Ailey's vision extends beyond performance, encompassing the Ailey School, Ailey II (a junior company), Ailey Extension, and AileyCamp. The Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation is housed in the Joan Weill Center for Dance, one of the largest buildings dedicated to dance in the U.S.. The company integrated in 1962, expanding its cultural representation. In 1965, Judith Jamison, for whom Ailey created the solo "Cry," joined the company and later became its artistic director after Ailey's death in 1989. The Ailey company has a long history with Dallas, with TITAS/Dance Unbound regularly bringing them to the Winspear Opera House. The company first performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1969 and, in 1970, became the first American modern dance company to tour the Soviet Union since Isadora Duncan.