Alvin Ailey’s Works: Form & Content, Impact on Concert Dance

Alvin Ailey’s works took on many forms thought his choreographic career. Ailey used large groups of people in his dances many of his dances. He choreographed dance pieces using trios in certain parts and also utilized partnering and duets. Ailey also choreographed solo dance works in his career as well. The content of Alvin Ailey’s work was also diverse as well. In his early work “Blues Suite,” had content that was “set in and around a barrelhouse, depicts the desperation and joys of life on the edge of poverty in the South” (DeFrantz). This was a group choreographic work. In Ailey’s most recognized work “Cry” a choreographic worked dedicated to his mother. Its content includes the experiences of black women and their resilience and strength. Ailey created this for Judith Jamison, one of his dance muses, and this was a solo choreographic piece. Besides “Cry” Ailey also choreographed other solo pieces like “Witness,” which was also well known. These were some of the forms Alvin Ailey’s works were delivered in and some of the content his work showed and depicted.

Alvin Ailey’s work has made an extremely significant impact on concert dance and dance in general in our present time. His choreographic works are some of the best the 20th century concert dance has experienced. Not only has Ailey’s work proven to be some of the best, but it has also withstood time. One of his greatest master pieces, choreographic works, “Revelations” is one of the most restaged pieces of choreography and concert dance performed to this day. He has given way to many African American dancers of the time and inspired many people, as well as dancers, around the world to dance and/or start dancing. He constantly pushed the boundary and limits of what he can and could set and depicted on stage and he encouraged his students and others to do the same. Alvin Ailey has left a lasting impact on the world of concert dance in this time.