Summary
Meet Alvin Ailey, a dance prodigy and modern dance innovator who brought African-American culture to world stages. Ailey came from humble beginnings: He was born in rural Texas during the Great Depression, and sometimes went to bed hungry. But his community would come together to dance both in church and in neighborhood clubs. Ailey took his first dance class at 18, and four years later, he took over a major modern dance company. After moving to New York City to dance on Broadway, he created the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. His famous dance Revelations traces the journey of African Americans from enslavement to freedom, and remains the most seen modern dance work of all time. Press “play” to learn more about this modern dance innovator!
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Alvin Ailey:
- What is one new thing you learned about alvin ailey?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining alvin ailey.
- Draw or give one example of your own.