Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater photograph collection

Abstract

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Photograph Collection documents the dance company's performers and performances. Photographs of performers include portraits of dance company director Alvin Ailey (1955-1980s), individual and group portraits of dancers, portraits of performance singers who accompanied the dancers, and a few snapshots of the dancers. A Carl Van Vechten photograph of Ailey (1955) may be from his Broadway theater career, prior to the start of his Company. Also depicted is Ailey teaching dance to gym team members at Cortland State College (New York). Dancer portraits consist primarily of publicity shots. Several works capture individual dancers during actual performances.

Performance photographs are arranged alphabetically by title and consist of posed publicity works and action shots taken during various performances. Amongst the works represented are "Blues Suite," "Cry," and "Revelations." Performances document the national and international appearances of the Company, with performances in New York, California, Australia, London, Paris, and other places. Photographs also document a guest appearance by Patrick Dupond, the principal dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet. With the exception of two snapshots, the collection does not provide a view of the Company's daily life of dance rehearsals, workouts, travel shots, etc. Neither does the collection document the Alvin Ailey Dance School.

Dates / Origin

Date created: 1955

Library locations

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division

Shelf locator: SC Photo Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Collection