The Ailey story: new books on the phenomenon.Ailey Spirit: The Journey of an American Dance Company Text by Robert Tracy; foreword fore·word n. A preface or an introductory note, as for a book, especially by a person other than the author. foreword Noun an introductory statement to a book Noun 1. by Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (b. October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He is among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era and is also a well-known instrumentalist in classical music. He is also the Musical Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. . New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2004. 168 pages. $35. This book celebrates the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey. It is made up of 30 dancers as well as artistic director Judith Jamison and associate artistic director Masazumi Chaya. , presented here as the embodiment em·bod·i·ment n. 1. The act of embodying or the state of being embodied. 2. One that embodies: "The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history" of the ideals of American democracy. It tells the story of Alvin Ailey Noun 1. Alvin Ailey - United States choreographer noted for his use of African elements (born in 1931) Ailey from his beginnings in Texas, through the creation of his company and his choreography, to Judith Jamison's artistic directorship today. The biographical aspect of the book is straightforward and informative. The writing inspires, however, in the quotes from Ailey and his dancers. They convey messages nearly as poignantly as the many photographs, which are the real jewels in this book. These, by seasoned dance photographers like Jack Vartoogian, Nan Melville, and Johan Elbers, portray the spectrum of the company's repertoire of motions and emotions. They do gorgeous justice to a body of dancers whose bodies have served as vessels for an aesthetic full of power and grace. Dancing Revelations: Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture African American culture or Black culture, in the United States, includes the various cultural traditions of African American communities. It is both part of, and distinct from American culture. The U.S. By Thomas F. DeFrantz. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004. 320 pages. $35. In Dancing Revelations scholar Thomas F. DeFrantz puts the phenomenon of the Ailey company in the context of the 20th century's battles for civil, women's, and gay rights. He draws on interviews, videos, and oral histories of Ailey dancers to follow the evolution of Ailey's company. The book explores Ailey's vision in relation to what was at first called "Negro heritage" and what later became questions like, "Do dancing black bodies always dance black?" It pays particular attention to Ailey's masterpiece Revelations (which was voted Favorite Modern Work by DM readers, see "Readers' Choice," July, page 38), in its evolving versions, as a representation of African American culture. The book has many black-and-white photographs as well as a chronology, of Ailey's choreography. The structure is modeled after blues music, with breaks punctuating the background rhythms of analysis. Short essays appear in the middle of each chapter, parallel to their chapters' themes, to illustrate their relevance in new lights. These are meant to enliven en·liv·en tr.v. en·liv·ened, en·liv·en·ing, en·liv·ens To make lively or spirited; animate. en·liv  en·er n. the pace of what DeFrantz admits is, at times, an academic "cataloguing of Ailey's life work." They succeed at their mission, and Dancing Revelations is an enjoyable read, not only for those concerned with Ailey's dances as they relate to larger struggles within American society, but for anyone who loves the art and artist.
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