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This was the first ballet to convincingly merge jazz dance and ballet technique.

After his untimely death in 1989, his long time prodigy, Judith Jamison, became the Artistic Director of AAADT. Following in the tradition of Mr. Ailey she continues to promote new choreographers, a multi-cultural curriculum at the Ailey Center, and initiatives to bring dance into the community through adult and children's arts programs. The Ailey Camp works with preteens, to strengthen their bodies and minds. Developing leadership and communication skills, as well as a respect for themselves and others, the children are encouraged to discover the special inner qualities that they can offer to the world.

The AAADT has performed in most states, and in 71 countries on six continents, for over 21 million people. Dance historians can recall a time when ballet and modern dance were very different and even competitive disciplines. Alvin Ailey and his company changed that forever. During his lifetime, Mr. Ailey has received many prestigious awards including Kennedy Center Honors, in 1998 for his extraodinary contribution to American culture and achievement in the performing arts. The company remains committed to promoting the Ailey heritage in which dance as a medium honors the past, rejoices in the present and marches intrepidly into the future, making new and even more unique contributions to mankind.

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