[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
490 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 490) recognizing the Alvin Ailey 
     American Dance Theater for 50 years of service to the 
     performing arts.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 490) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 490

       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 etes 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
       Resolved, 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.

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