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Edges of Ailey Opens at the Whitney Museum of American Art
September 25, 2024, 11:27.10 pm ET

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Photo: Natasha Moustache

"Edges of Ailey," at the Whitney Museum of American Art, is a groundbreaking exhibition that honors the life, dances, and profound legacy of choreographer Alvin Ailey. This expansive showcase marks the first large-scale museum celebration of Ailey’s work and influence. Curated by Adrienne Edwards, the exhibition offers a multi-dimensional exploration of Ailey's life, combining visual art, live performances, music, and a stunning video installation from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory. Visitors will experience a full immersion into Ailey’s personal and creative journey, with rarely seen archival materials such as letters, choreographic notes, and performance footage brought to life.

Spread across the Museum's fifth-floor galleries, the exhibition features works by over eighty artists, including icons like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Faith Ringgold, and Kara Walker, arranged around themes central to Ailey's art and identity. These themes include Black spirituality, the American South's cultural tapestry, the power of migration, and Black women’s pivotal role in his life. An 18-channel video installation by filmmakers Josh Begley and Kya Lou captures Ailey’s life in motion. Complementing this visual journey, the third-floor theater hosts a performance series by AILEY, in residence one week each month, offering audiences an intimate experience of his dance legacy. The exhibition invites viewers to engage deeply with Ailey's enduring influence on art, culture, and Black liberation.



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