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The lights dim and there is a profound hush that rolls over the sold out crowd. Hearts beat loudly with anticipation as the curtains slowly open. A solitary light beams down on a strong, regal-like black woman adorned with a beautiful head wrap. She deliberately unwraps the headpiece an uses it to scrub the floor. After illuminating her trials and sorrows in movement, she eventually rises toward a life of freedom. This dance, depicting the courage and determination of an African American woman entitled, Cry, is the type of choreography that will immortalize Alvin Ailey. For the past fifty years, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), has not only recorded the history of the African American experience through modern dance, but has also touched the lives of children and adults with their physically awe-inspiring, technically exact and powerfully expressive performances. Internationally, they are known as cultural ambassadors of good will, promoting the uniqueness of black Americans and the preservation of the American dance heritage.

Born in Texas, in 1931, Ailey was raised by his single mother. On a junior high school field trip to see The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo he discovered a whole new world of expression, dance. Ailey began his serious dance training when a high school friend brought him to Lester Horton's classes. The influence of Horton's dance troupe, which included American Indian and Japanese influences, can be seen in later years in Mr. Ailey's multi-cultural style.

In 1958, the Ailey Company emerged from performances in New York City. This small group of dancers changed the aesthetic quality of modern dance forever. When Mr. Ailey started creating dances he drew from his childhood experiences with spirituals and blues as his inspiration. It was during this period of his life that he conceived his most loved and acclaimed work entitled, Revelations. This trilogy portrays an array of spiritual worship, which has become a tradition to see in the "finale" of most performances.

Alvin Ailey was the first modern dance choreographer to successfully produce a "pointe" ballet entitled, Feast of Ashes. In 1970, after traveling all over the world with their dance, the company became internationally recognized for combining Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Latino and African genres, to produce a fascinating and unique dance experience. That same year, with an original score commissioned from Duke Ellington, Ailey created, River for The American Ballet Theatre.

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