Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre is one of the best dance companies in the world. In my opinion, it is the best and I have been obsessed with them for years now.

Alvin Ailey created 79 ballets throughout the span of his life and is thought of as a genius. After his death, Judith Jamison took over as artistic director and keeps Mr. Ailey's ideas and dreams alive today.

When I was a senior in high school, I applied to Fordham University and auditioned for the Ailey program. (There is a partnership between the university and the theatre.) Walking into the building in NYC took my breath away. I auditioned and have never been so scared in my life. After the audition they conducted an one on one interview between you and some of the choreographers. They offered me a spot in their summer intensive! They could not determine whether or not I had been accepted into the program yet because I did not know whether or not I was accepted into Fordham University. I had to wait and see what would happen and I was a nervous wreck the whole time. Finally my letter from Fordham came, and I was not accepted. I cried for a while because that meant I was not able to dance with the Ailey Company. The intensive was so much money and when it came down to it, I could not do it if I wasn't going to be attending Fordham in August.


My heart was broken but Ailey was not out of my life forever. Last semester I was accepted into a performance project here at Manhattanville choreographed by a choreographer from Ailey: Earl Mosley. He gave me a solo in the performance and told me to attend his summer intensive in CT. The whole month of July I devoted myself to the intensive and it was the best decision of my life. I made so many great connections with Ailey and learned so much.

After the first intensive, I was offered a spot in another intensive in NYC run by Ronald K Brown(who I am also obsessed with). I do not live in NYC so Mr. Mosley let me stay with him in his apartment in Brooklyn during the week intensive. I have never danced like I did this summer and plan on attending both intensives again next summer. It was amazing to stay with such a respected people like Mr. Mosley and Mr. Ronald K. Brown. They were so good to me and I still keep in contact with them now. I plan on taking class from both of them whenever I have the chance and am so excited for it.

Did I mention I watched the summer 2008 Olympics with a principle dancer from Ailey? Clifton Brown. The amazing guy in this photo. I still can't believe it.