Judith Jamison was always going to be a tough act to follow. But in the six years since Robert Battle took the helm of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, he’s launched a new era for the iconic troupe. Take last season: Battle revived Ailey’s Masekela Langage, pushed the envelope with Kyle Abraham’s new Untitled America […]

Living the #dancerlife is no easy feat. Between daily technique classes, late night rehearsals and numerous side gigs to get the bills paid, dancers often don’t prioritize self care. It may seem like the least important item on your never-ending to-do list, but it’s vital to make time for your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. […]

When Ashley Mayeux joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater last summer after four years with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, she was already a versatile mover accustomed to a demanding schedule. But the career move came with several challenges. Here’s how she’s tackled them: To get used to the rep: “I had to take a lot more […]

Michael McBride and Samuel Roberts both joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in June 2009, but they were at very different points in their careers: McBride was just finishing his junior year in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, while Roberts was already 10 years into his career. They were paired as roommates on their first domestic […]

How do you make a dance film about one of the most devastating social issues of our time? In the latest collaboration from Lil Buck and Jon Boogz, the answer is to merge visceral movement storytelling with cold, hard facts. “Am I a Man?” follows Lil Buck and Boogz as they dance through an experience […]

Chalvar Monteiro saw his first Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance at 12 and was smitten. Today, at 28, he’s a lithe, elegantly understated member of the company. But he’s experienced some happy detours along the way—namely as a dancer with MacArthur-winning choreographer Kyle Abraham, as well as Sidra Bell and Larry Keigwin. After a […]

Alvin Ailey’s Revelations is the most widely-seen piece of modern dance ever. And it’s about to reach even more people. As much as we love seeing live performance, the recent trend of showing dance on TV (and at the movies and through livestreams!) is widening accessibility in a big way. Just in the next few […]

Let’s face it: We love the sunshine and the chance to dance outdoors in fresh summer air, but the season can get hot. Sizzling. With a blistering heat index of over 100 degrees in New York City, there’s no better time to slip into the air-conditioned oasis of a movie theater. And if dance performances are part of my theater’s […]