Alvin Ailey

By K.franklin6

  • Alvin Ailey is born

  • When Ailey was 5 his mom raped by a group of white men leaving him afraid of whites

  • Ailey and his mom move to Los Angeles

  • He was invited to New York to dance in House of Flowers by Truman Capote

    In 1945, Ailey and his friend – Carmen De Lavallade – were invited to New York to dance in the Broadway show, House of Flowers by Truman Capote

  • Ailey was introduced to the Hollywood studio of Lester Horton

    Ailey was introduced to the Hollywood studio of Lester Horton by his school friend Carmen De Lavallade.

  • Ailey began choreographing

    Despite his youth and lack of experience (Ailey was only twenty-two and had choreographed only one dance in a workshop) he began choreographing, directing scene and costume designs and running rehearsals

  • Ailey became the artistic director of Lester Horton's studios

  • Ailey appeared in the Broadway show Jamaica

  • Ailey formed the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

  • Ailey created his signature work, Revelations

  • US State Department sponsored the Alvin Ailey Dance Companys first overseas tour

  • Ailey was awarded the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP

  • Alvin Dies of AIDS

  • Ailey was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr & Mrs.