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AND THE CONTEXT OF
ALVIN AILEY’S BODY OF WORK
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In this tutorial you will research other works
choreographed by Alvin Ailey and consider how they
relate to Cry.
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AILEY’S BODY OF WORK
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When studying a prescribed work it is essential to have knowledge
of other works by the choreographer to assist in identifying their
choreographic style or choreographic phases throughout their
career.
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AILEY’S BODY OF WORK
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Whilst many of Ailey’s works premiered to critical acclaim, he
spent many years revising them before presenting them in a
final format. Works such as Blues Suite and Revelations were
created in this manner.
Read the following excerpts about Blues Suite and
Revelations in order to gain an insight about how these works
were received.
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AILEY’S BLUES SUITE
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Premiere1958“Drawing on fragments of his Texas childhood…
Ailey’s original program note aligned his dance with cultural roots:
‘The musical heritage of the southern Negro remains a profound
influence on the music of the world… during the dark days the
blues sprang full-born from the docks and fields, saloons and
bawdy houses… indeed from the very souls of their creators’.”
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(Ailey Program Note, Kaufmann Concert Hall Dance Centre of the
92nd Street YM-YWHA, 30th March 1958. Cited by De Frantz,
2004).
AILEY’S REVELATIONS
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Premiere1960“This suite explores motivations and emotions of
Negro religious music, which, like its heir, the Blues, takes many
forms - ‘true spirituals’ with their sustained melodies, ring-shouts,
song-sermons, and holy blues - songs of trouble, of love, of
deliverance.”
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(Ailey Program Note, Kaufmann Concert Hall YM-YWHA,
31st January 1960. Cited by DeFrantz, 2004).
AILEY’S BODY OF WORK
View other works by Alvin Ailey and identify features of his
choreographic style that relate to the following:
• movement characteristics (genre-specific)
• manipulation of the elements of dance
• relationship between movement and music
• theatrical elements.
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AILEY’S BODY OF WORK
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Activity
Select one of the following essay topics
1. Describe the characteristics of Alvin Ailey’s choreographic style.In your
response provide specific examples from Cry and one other work.
2. Discuss Alvin Ailey’s contribution to the development of dance as an art
form. In your response provide specific examples from his body of work.
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