Alvin Ailey Dance Theater brings storied history to L.A.

For astir 70 years, the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been showcasing Black endowment and civilization done dance. The troupe, which features Afro Latino endowment and creation elements, is bringing its robust programme to L.A. this week.

Founder Alvin Ailey’s method attack to creation combined modern dance, ballet and jazz — among different creation forms — successful an effort to blur the accepted boundaries of the creation world.

Part of the organization’s ngo was not lone to uplift African American storytelling done movement, but to besides item Black civilization from crossed the globe.

In 2025, the Ailey Theater celebrated Afro Caribbean civilization done its accumulation of “Jazz Island,” choreographed by Maija García. Channeling her Cuban roots and intensive probe connected Caribbean folklore tradition, García crafted a 25-minute amusement inspired by writer Geoffrey Holder’s nonfiction publication “Black Gods, Green Islands,” which highlighted the rhythms and energies of the Afro Caribbean diaspora.

Sebastian Garcia, a 10-year creation nonrecreational successful his archetypal twelvemonth with the Ailey Theater, told The Times helium was particularly impressed with the level of attraction that the institution enactment toward prepping that show, which extended beyond the carnal mechanics of the performance.

“Maija was precise adamant astir truly having conversations astir knowing the Caribbean benignant and the Black acquisition done the Caribbean lens, which was truly refreshing,” Garcia told The Times.

“There are galore aspects of everyone that are being woven unneurotic present astatine Ailey to make creation and to springiness backmost to the audience.”

Over the years, the Ailey Theater has performed astatine prestigious venues, specified arsenic the White House, embarked connected a 10-country circuit of Africa for the U.S. State Department successful 1967, performed successful the USSR successful 1970 and toured China successful 1985.

The institution has besides graced the opening ceremonies of the 1968 Olympics successful Mexico City and adjacent performed astatine 3 a.m. connected New Year’s Day for the prince of Morocco successful 1978.

From March 25 to 29, the New York City-based theater’s traveling companies volition execute a bid of shows astatine downtown L.A’s the Music Center. While the Ailey classics “Revelations” and “Grace” person been mainstays of the company’s repertoire, the L.A. performances volition besides see newer numbers, specified arsenic “Blink of an Eye,” “A Case of You,” “Difference Between,” “The Holy Blues” and “Embrace.”