Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which was founded in 1958 by renowned dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey. It’s complete repertory of over 200 works that have been performed for millions of peo
Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of the historic Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which was founded in 1958 by renowned dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey. It’s complete repertory of over 200 works that have been performed for millions of people all over the world.
And the troupe will celebrate with Chicago exclusive performances at The Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University.
Ailey began his career dancing with Lester Horton’s dance company in the 1940s, and when Horton suddenly died in 1953, Ailey took over the company as director and choreographer. Soon after, he and other dancers formed AAADT and eventually became the resident dance company of the 51st Street YWCA’s Clark Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. In 1960, Ailey choreographed his classic work of art Revelations, which brought the company international acclaim. After his death in 1989, dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison became artistic director.
Since then, AAADT has evolved into much more than just a dance company, with additional programs including junior dance company Ailey II, The Ailey School, and various other arts in education and community programs and classes.
Lisa Johnson-Willingham has been a dancer for over 20 years. The teacher and choreographer said she aspired to become an Alvin Ailey dancer after seeing a production of "Revelations."
“When I decided I wanted to become a professional dancer, I did my research on different companies that inspired me, especially the Alvin Ailey dance company,” she told the Defender. “I remember seeing them when I was in middle school and high school, and I was just in awe. That’s what I wanted to do. That was my focus, my journey–to be on stage performing ‘Revelations‘ with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.”
Johnson-Willingham, a Washington, D.C. native and graduate of University of the Arts in Philadelphia, eventually fulfilled that dream, dancing with AAADT, in addition to other companies like the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, New World Dance Company and Deeply Rooted Productions. After moving to Chicago in 1999, Johnson-Willingham worked as the dance director of the Whitney Young dance department and became the director of Ailey Camp Chicago, a summer program designed to serve inner-city children and that uses dance as a means to develop self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical-thinking skills. In addition to working with AileyCamp, she teaches at Columbia College Chicago, Olive Harvey and the Joffrey Ballet School.
“I wanted to be Alvin Ailey,” she said. “I wanted to do all these things. I fulfilled my desire to perform, and I wanted to transition into becoming a great teacher and a great choreographer; (that’s when) I moved to Chicago and began to teach and choreograph and direct the AileyCamp. I believe that I was granted and blessed with an amazing career as a dancer so that I could be a great teacher and share my experience with my students.”
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