"I was youngish," says Sylvia Waters of the time, in 1968, when she joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. "You can see that I'm trying not to be too specific," she jokes, speaking on a cell from a coffee shop in New York City.
The climax of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's 50th-anniversary season, which has emphasized live music, has arrived in the middle of its run, with two programs whose first two-thirds are each to music by Duke Ellington.
Here’s my daydream. I’m walking along 8th Street and meet the ghost of Alvin Ailey. He looks gorgeous—just the way he did when I ran into him over 30 years ago in the same place. “Alvin,” I say, “did you know that on the opening night of your company’s 50th anniversary season—in honor of it—the top part of the Empire State Building was bathed in gold light?”
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrated its opening night at the New York City Center, followed by a dinner for nearly 1,300 guests at the Sheraton New York. The event raised $2.92 million.
Alvin Ailey started his company with a handfull of dancers and the idea of incorporating jazz, blues and gospel into his unique repertoire.
Dec. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater scorns doing things by half measures. Wednesday night’s gala opening of its five-week season at the City Center, celebrating its 50th anniversary, pulled out all the stops.
Melena Ryzik reports from the 50th anniversary benefit gala for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is 50 years old. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg proclaimed Dec. 4 Alvin Ailey Day in New York; Gov. David A. Paterson has honored the company on behalf of the State of New York; and the United States Congress has called it the nation's cultural ambassador to the world.
Quite a celebration honoring the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Fifty years later, Alvin Ailey's vision of dance continues to be "a revelation."