The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York is hosting an exhibition celebrating Alvin Ailey, the legendary founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a transformative figure in modern dance. Showcasing diverse mediums such as video, painting, photography, and prints, the exhibition explores themes central to Ailey’s life and artistry.
“You’ll see artists working in all different mediums, making work on themes related to the ideas Ailey explored in his dances or experienced in his life,” said Whitney Museum director Scott Rothkopf.
Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958 to preserve and enrich African American cultural narratives through dance. His groundbreaking 1960 masterpiece Revelations solidified his legacy as a visionary. In 1969, Ailey established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (now The Ailey School), and in 1974, he formed Ailey II, a platform for emerging artists.
The exhibition opens with a newly commissioned portrait of Ailey, accompanied by a one-hour video narrative chronicling his life, from his 1930s Texas upbringing to his 1989 passing. It highlights his achievements, struggles, and the cultural context that shaped his work. The exhibit also examines how the company continues Ailey’s legacy while infusing fresh energy into his body of work.
Matthew Rushing, the interim artistic director since 2020, praised the exhibition for capturing Ailey’s essence. “He celebrated humanity and ensured people felt heard and seen,” Rushing said, emphasizing the profound influence of African American culture on American art and Ailey’s universal appeal.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s new season runs in New York through Jan. 5, followed by its annual world tour.
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