A trailblazer in the dance world

Alvin Ailey was one of the greatest choreographers of the 20th century.

Avisionary in modern dance, Alvin Ailey was a Black American who broke through racist barriers to become a cultural icon. Early life Alvin Ailey Jr. was born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas, in the Jim Crow era (a long period in US history when racial segregation was legal). He grew up in a single-room cabin that had only a bed and a stove for furnishings. His mother, Lula, was a single parent who raised Ailey while earning a living by cooking, cleaning, and picking cotton. When Ailey was about 10, they moved to Los Angeles, California. There, a teacher introduced Ailey to ballet and he saw his first theater show. But he couldn’t find any Black artists performing. Meeting a mentor At age 17, Ailey was introduced to…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 248

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