Ailey

Alvin Ailey (1931–1989) was a trailblazing dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. His leadership and passion helped nurture artists and allowed them to express the universality of the African American experience through dance. His celebrated company is well known to Bay Area audiences through a long-term relationship with Cal Performances, including residency programs and the annual AileyCamp. Director Jamila Wignot’s biographical portrait of the enigmatic artist is largely told through Ailey’s own words—archival recordings that act as a form of narration for the film. Documentation of performances and interviews with his contemporaries and those he inspired make for must-see viewing.