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On this day in history: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater debuts
On this day in 1958, a group of black modern dancers gave their debut performance as The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company in New York.
Around this time, founder Alvin Ailey was the company’s director, choreographer, and principal dancer. The company started as an ensemble of only seven dancers, plus their choreographer, and many guest choreographers.
Following their first performance, which included Alvin Ailey’s Blues Suite, the company travelled on what were known as the “station wagon tours”. This was a vehicle driven by longtime friend of the company, Mickey Bord.
Around 1960, Ailey changed his all-black dance company into a multi-racial group, believing that there was a kind of reverse chauvinism to anything all black.
Check out a modern performance of Ailey’s Blues Suite.
