Final Project
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Nov 24, 2024
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Uploaded by BrigadierEchidna7976
Surname1
Student Name Professor
Course
Date
Final Project
Introduction,
The choreographer I would like to focus on in this project is Alvin Ailey, best known for
his choreography "Revelations." Alvin is an African American who founded the Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theatre in the late 1950s, specifically in 1958. "Revelations," one of his
creations released in 1960, made him famous and has become an icon of modern dance (Center). Contextualization
Alvin Ailey's background was marred with various challenges as he belonged to a
minority community that was facing racial oppression from the majority whites. At the time,
racial discrimination and segregation were the norm in society, and all people of African
American race were experiencing tough times, especially in interacting with the larger society.
This background greatly influenced Alvin's work as many reflected his cultural background
(Center). "Revelations," his famous work, is deeply rooted in his background and draws
inspiration from the many things happening among the African-American race. The African-
American gospel songs, spirituals, and the blues formed important aspects of Alvin's dance as
they reflected the African-American community's spirituality, resilience, and struggles at the
time. Interpretation,
Surname2
"Revelations "comprises a three-part dance suite meant to give the audience an
exploration of the African-American experience. "Pilgrim of Sorrow" is the first part of this
dance and slow and controlled movements characterize it. These movements represent the pain
and the hardships experienced in the slavery era. "Take Me to the Water" takes the second part of
this famous dance (
Solomons Jr, 65
). This baptismal celebration is meant to show the people's
purification and spiritual renewal. The last part is called "Move. Members, Move," and it poses
as a joyous liberation of the people. This represents the freedom that comes after long periods of
suffering. Alvin's " Revelations " choreography is a dynamic and powerful piece with much to learn
from. In this piece, Alvin uses various dynamic movements, stunning visual elements, and
intricate gestures to pass the dance message to the audience, especially on the struggles of the
African-American race (
DeFrantz, 659
). From the three parts, the dance's conclusion points to a
triumph of victory resulting from the strength, endurance, and struggles of the African American
race.
Gender, Race, and Class
Alvin's work, "Revelations," presents various issues related to class and race. Through
revelation, Alvin challenges the many societal norms meant to oppress the minority by the
majority of Whites. Alvin uses such a piece to address the many issues related to class and race
that have affected the African-American race for years (
DeFrantz, 27)
. Watching the dancers
perform the piece, one observes the struggles the African-American race has experienced for
years. The issues in the piece transcend gender and race. The choreography also offers insights into the African-American community's cultural
experiences, a case that makes the community feel represented and recognized. Through
Surname3
"Revelations," Alvin demonstrates the need for greater diversity in the dance industry as all
races, both the majority and minority racial groups
(Stage, 11)
. He offered a platform where
members of the minority community could showcase their dancing talents without being
subjected to any racial barriers. In conclusion, Alvin Ailey's choreography stands out as one of the most world-
recognized figures in the dance industry. His groundbreaking piece titled "Revelations" presents
him as an extraordinary choreographer whose works capture the most critical issues related to
class, gender, and race.
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Works Cited
Center, Lincoln. "Revelations - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater." YouTube
, YouTube Video, 6 Dec. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDXerubF4I4. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
DeFrantz, Thomas F.
Dancing revelations: Alvin Ailey's embodiment of African American culture
. Oxford University Press, 2004. https://books.google.co.ke/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=gSjRCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=%22Revelations+-
+Alvin+Ailey+American+Dance+Theater&ots=8c4TyfGdtw&sig=p0fXOK2mEziE-
Z_Qpc5pkVSu8kk&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Revelations%20-%20Alvin
%20Ailey%20American%20Dance%20Theater&f=false
DeFrantz, Thomas F. "Composite Bodies of Dance: The Repertory of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater."
Theatre Journal
(2005): 659-678. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25069735
Solomons Jr, Gus. "Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater." (2009): 64-65. https://hancher.uiowa.edu/sites/hancher.uiowa.edu/files/ailey_playbill_07_web.pdf
Stage, Carlson Family. "ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER." https://www.northrop.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/events/2015-
16_northrop_program_alvin_ailey_american_dance_theater_final.pdf