Editing Alvin Ailey (section)

===Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater===
{{main|Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater}}
==== The early Alvin Ailey Dance Theater ====
In 1958 Ailey founded the [[Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater]] to present his vision of honoring Black culture through dance. The company had its debut at the [[92nd Street Y|92nd Street YM-YWHA]] on March 30, 1958 in a concert shared with choreographer Ernest Parham, with headlining guest artist [[Talley Beatty]].<ref name=":0" /> The performance included Ailey's first masterpiece, ''Blues Suite'', which drew from Ailey's Texas childhood and ''House of Flowers'', following men and women as they caroused and cavorted over the course of an evening while blues music played in the background until church bells began to ring, signaling a return to mundane life.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/17/arts/review-dance-three-suites-and-a-solo-in-the-ailey-tradition.html|title=Review/Dance; Three Suites and a Solo In the Ailey Tradition| last=Anderson| first=Jack| date=1989-12-17|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-28|language=en-US| issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1912037|title=Alvin Ailey's Dance Troupe at 45|website=NPR|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref> Ailey danced in the other two premieres at this performance, ''Redonda'' and ''Ode and Homage''. ''Redonda'', which was later retitled ''Cinco Latinos'', brought together five short pieces described as "Latin Theme" in a work similar to  Horton's. ''Ode and Homage'', set to a score by [[Peggy Glanville-Hicks]], was a "dance of faith, respectfully dedicated to the memory of Lester Horton".<ref name=":0" />

Following the success of his first concert, Ailey continued choreographing for a shifting roster of dancers who were available for dances at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA, working with designers Normand Maxon, Ves Harper, and Nicola Cernovich. These works included the integrated ''Ariette Oubliée'' (December 21, 1958, a choreographic fantasy pantomime set to [[Ariettes oubliées|Debussy's similarly named song cycle]] and featuring Don Price and de Lavallade. He also choreographed for other companies in collaborations, such as a version of [[Miss Julie]], ''Mistress and Manservant'', to a score by [[Ravel]] for the Shirley Broughton Dance Company.<ref name=":0" />

On January 31, 1960, the AADT premiered several new works at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA. These included ''Sonera'', Ailey's first attempt at choreographing on point. Ailey also reworked ''Creation of the World'' for this performance as a duet for himself and Matt Turney of the [[Martha Graham Dance Company]], which received great acclaim.<ref name=":0" /> He also premiered his most popular and critically acclaimed work, ''[[Revelations (Alvin Ailey)|Revelations]].'' In creating ''Revelations,'' Ailey drew upon his "blood memories" of growing up in Texas surrounded by Black people, the church, spirituals, and the blues. The ballet charts the full range of feelings, from the majestic "I Been ’Buked" to the rapturous "Wade in the Water", closing with the electrifying finale, "[[Bosom of Abraham (song)|Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/aileys-revelations-relevant-as-ever-2511389868.html|title=Why We Need Ailey's Revelations Now More Than Ever|date=2017-11-29|website=Dance Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-alvin-ailey-classic-20170325-story.html|title=What makes Alvin Ailey's 'Revelations' an American dance classic?|date=2017-03-25|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scpr.org/programs/the-frame/2015/04/14/42370/alvin-ailey-dance-troupe-teaches-blood-memories-to/|title=Alvin Ailey dance troupe teaches 'blood memories' to LA teens|date=2015-04-14|website=Southern California Public Radio|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref>
[[File:Alvin Ailey - Revelations.jpg|thumb|''[[Revelations (Alvin Ailey)|Revelations]]'' performed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 2011]]
In 1960, Edele Holz offered Ailey rehearsal space at what would become the [[Clark Center for the Performing Arts]]. Shortly after the center opened in October of that year, AADT had its first concert. This concert included a November 27, 1960 premiered ''Knoxville: Summer of 1915,'' set to music by [[Samuel Barber]] and based on ''[[A Death in the Family]]'' and ''Three for Now'', set to music by [[Jimmy Giuffre]] and [[John Lewis (pianist)]], as well as Horton's ''The Beloved'' and John Butler's ''Portrait of Billie.'' The next year, he premiered ''Hermit Songs'' (10 December 1961)''.'' Originally conceived as a group work, it premiered as a solo for Ailey performed to [[Leontyne Price]]'s recording of Samuel Barber's [[Hermit Songs]]. ''Hermit Songs,'' which is based on a loose narrative of a monk's privilege and penance, remained in the AADT's repertoire through 1991.<ref name=":0" />

Ailey's work during this time was different from that of many other modern dance choreographers of the time. By keeping a focus on narrative, he was able to draw an audience from outside New York City and the avant garde.<ref name=":3" />