Whereas the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) is
widely recognized as one of the world’s premier modern dance companies;
Whereas AAADT is dedicated to promoting the uniqueness of
the African-American cultural experience, to preserving the heritage of modern
dance, and to bringing modern dance to people around the globe;
Whereas, over its 50-year history, AAADT has performed for
an estimated 21,000,000 people in 48 States and in 71 countries on 6
continents;
Whereas AAADT tours more than any other performing arts
company in the world;
Whereas AAADT’s signature work,
Revelations
, has been seen by more people around the globe than
any other work of dance;
Whereas AAADT performs works by both emerging and
established choreographers from throughout the United States and the
world;
Whereas AAADT’s home in New York City, The Joan Weill
Center for Dance, is the largest facility dedicated exclusively to dance in the
United States;
Whereas Alvin Ailey, founder of AAADT, received the United
Nations Peace Medal in 1982;
Whereas President George W. Bush recognized AAADT and
Artistic Director Judith Jamison with the National Medal of Arts in 2001,
making AAADT the first dance company to be so honored;
Whereas AAADT has performed for United States Presidents
and foreign leaders throughout the company’s 50-year history, including
performances in 1968 for President Johnson, in 1977 at the inaugural gala for
President Carter, in 1993 at the inaugural gala for President Clinton, and in
2003 at a state dinner honoring President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya;
Whereas, over the years, AAADT has brought the culture of
the United States to audiences around the world with performances at such
historic events as the Rio de Janeiro International Arts Festival in 1963, the
first Negro Arts Festival in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966, the fabled New Year’s Eve
performance for the Crown Prince of Morocco in 1978, the Paris Centennial
performance at the Grand Palais Theatre in 1989, 2 unprecedented engagements in
South Africa in 1997 and 1998, the 1996 and 2002 Olympic Games, the 2005 Stars
of the White Nights festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the 2006 Les étés
de la danse de Paris festival in Paris, France;
Whereas AAADT annually provides more than 100,000 young
people from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds with the
opportunity to explore their creative potential and build their self-esteem
through its Arts in Education and Community Programs, which includes 9 Ailey
Camps in cities across the United States;
Whereas Ailey II, the junior company to AAADT, reaches
more than 69,000 people each year through its inspiring performances and
outreach activities while touring to smaller communities in more than 50 North
American cities; and
Whereas the Ailey School, accredited by the National
Association of Schools of Dance, provides the highest quality training
consistent with the professional standards of AAADT, including a Certificate
Program, a Fellowship Program, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in
conjunction with Fordham University: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)recognizes and
commends the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) for 50 years of service
as a cultural ambassador of the United States to the world, by bringing
world-class American modern dance to an estimated 21,000,000 people around the
globe;
(2)recognizes that
AAADT has been a true pioneer in the world of dance by establishing an extended
cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community
programs to all people while using the beauty and humanity of the
African-American heritage and other cultures to unite people of all ages,
races, and backgrounds; and
(3)recognizes that
Ailey II, the prestigious Ailey School, and the extensive and innovative Arts
in Education and Community Programs of AAADT train future generations of
dancers and choreographers while continuing to expose young people from
communities large and small to the arts.