Profile of Alvin Ailey--in honor of Black HIV/ Aids Awareness Day....

...(February 7, 2007) and Black History Month.

Alvin Ailey, Jr. (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989) was an African American modern dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He died of AIDS, at the age of 57. <1>

Ailey was born to his 17-year-old mother, Lula Cooper, in Rogers, Texas. Alvin developed an early interest in dance. In 1943 he and his mother moved to Los Angeles.

Initially, he took dance classes from choreographer Katherine Dunham, and later studied under Los Angeles, California dance teacher Lester Horton. While studying with Horton, Ailey pursued college courses in the Romance languages. At various times Ailey was enrolled at UCLA, Los Angeles City College, and the University of California at Berkeley. He studied authors like James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Carson McCullers. Ailey was fascinated by Horton's choreography, which consisted of theater pieces based on pictures by Paul Klee, poems by Garcia Lorca, music by Duke Ellington and Igor Stravinsky, and even Mexican themes. When Lester Horton died in 1953, 22-year-old Ailey was chosen to fill the shoes of his mentor. He became the director and resident choreographer for the Lester Horton Dance Theater. Within one year he choreographed three original dances for Horton's company: Creation of the World, According to St. Francis, and Mourning Morning.

Ailey began a relationship with his longtime partner, David McReynolds, in the 1950s.

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taken from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvin_Ailey

****note--this will also be cross posted in the African American forum, as it is important to me to point out that many of the black communities greatest artists and leaders were also gay. My fervent hope is that this helps (somehow) to chip away at the walls some in the African American community seem to have around their hearts regarding the lgbt community.

Happy Black History Month!

Please spread awareness for Black HIV/Aid Awareness Day :hi:

:hi: back!

His choreography is very interesting and I have been so happy to see some of his work. I did not know he died of AIDS. Too many dead. Too many wonderful artists gone.

Thank you for working to chip away at the walls. It is a tough issue between the groups. I know we have worked hard here to break them down and last summer when we all worked together to fight our city council we finally were able to get together in a very good way. It was almost better than winning the fight.