1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:27,737 --> 00:00:32,033 (orchestra playing "The Star-Spangled Banner") 4 00:00:32,074 --> 00:00:36,954 ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ 5 00:00:39,373 --> 00:00:46,714 ♪ And the home of the brave! ♪ 6 00:00:46,756 --> 00:00:48,090 - [Announcer] The John F. Kennedy Center 7 00:00:48,132 --> 00:00:51,427 for the Performing Arts, honoring Alvin Ailey. 8 00:00:51,469 --> 00:00:54,430 (audience applause) 9 00:00:56,724 --> 00:00:59,685 - Alvin Ailey has a passion for movement that reveals 10 00:00:59,727 --> 00:01:01,520 the meaning of things. 11 00:01:01,562 --> 00:01:04,523 His is a choreography of the heart, 12 00:01:04,565 --> 00:01:07,985 drawing a whole new public to modern dance. 13 00:01:08,027 --> 00:01:12,948 Alvin Ailey is Black and 14 00:01:12,990 --> 00:01:14,283 he's universal. 15 00:01:14,325 --> 00:01:18,954 The very spirit that has made him a Pied Piper 16 00:01:18,996 --> 00:01:20,748 of modern dance. 17 00:01:20,790 --> 00:01:22,500 And that's his genius. 18 00:01:22,541 --> 00:01:23,709 (audience clapping) 19 00:01:23,751 --> 00:01:25,961 ♪ You better run ♪ (exciting fast music) 20 00:01:26,003 --> 00:01:27,922 ♪ Run on for a long time ♪ 21 00:01:27,963 --> 00:01:30,758 ♪ I said, run home for a long time ♪ 22 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,928 ♪ Let me tell you God almighty gonna cut you down ♪ 23 00:01:33,969 --> 00:01:36,680 ♪ Go tell that liar ♪ 24 00:01:36,722 --> 00:01:38,933 ♪ Midnight rider ♪ 25 00:01:38,974 --> 00:01:40,226 ♪ Gambling rambler ♪ 26 00:01:40,267 --> 00:01:41,685 ♪ That's right ♪ 27 00:01:41,727 --> 00:01:43,437 ♪ I tell him God almighty gonna cut him down ♪ 28 00:01:43,479 --> 00:01:44,772 ♪ Oh yes ♪ 29 00:01:44,814 --> 00:01:45,940 ♪ One of these days, just mark my word ♪ 30 00:01:45,981 --> 00:01:47,191 ♪ Oh yes ♪ 31 00:01:47,233 --> 00:01:48,359 ♪ Your neighbor has gone to work ♪ 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:49,276 ♪ Oh yes ♪ 33 00:01:49,318 --> 00:01:51,362 ♪ Woke up, knock on the door ♪ 34 00:01:51,403 --> 00:01:54,240 ♪ That's all brother, you're not no more ♪ 35 00:01:54,281 --> 00:01:56,742 ♪ Go tell him, that liar ♪ 36 00:01:56,784 --> 00:01:58,994 ♪ Midnight rider ♪ 37 00:01:59,036 --> 00:02:00,579 ♪ Gambling rambler ♪ 38 00:02:00,621 --> 00:02:05,084 ♪ That's right, tell him God almighty gonna cut him down ♪ 39 00:02:06,544 --> 00:02:11,507 (audience clapping) (audience cheering) 40 00:02:25,563 --> 00:02:35,562 (soft organ music) 41 00:02:35,614 --> 00:02:42,830 (soft organ music) 42 00:02:42,872 --> 00:02:45,666 (traffic humming) 43 00:02:55,301 --> 00:02:57,011 - [Instructor] Rehearsal now beginning. 44 00:02:57,052 --> 00:02:59,763 (crowd chatting) 45 00:03:02,391 --> 00:03:03,601 - Yes sir. 46 00:03:04,810 --> 00:03:05,603 - Hello. 47 00:03:06,729 --> 00:03:08,397 Come on down! 48 00:03:08,439 --> 00:03:10,441 (person cheering) 49 00:03:10,482 --> 00:03:13,360 So, we're embarking on a longer work 50 00:03:13,402 --> 00:03:17,198 that delves into aspects of Mr. Ailey's life, 51 00:03:17,239 --> 00:03:21,368 with the great storyteller, Mr. Rennie Harris. 52 00:03:21,410 --> 00:03:25,289 (audience clapping) (audience cheering) 53 00:03:25,331 --> 00:03:26,457 - Hey, what's happening? 54 00:03:26,498 --> 00:03:28,459 So yeah, we're gonna do something, 55 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:29,460 we're gonna create. 56 00:03:29,501 --> 00:03:30,711 (audience laughing) 57 00:03:30,753 --> 00:03:32,671 Whatever it is, it gotta be good. 58 00:03:32,713 --> 00:03:36,091 (audience laughing) You know, so... 59 00:03:36,133 --> 00:03:38,469 All right, so Nina and Millie gonna start 60 00:03:38,510 --> 00:03:40,179 showing you guys some of the movement 61 00:03:40,221 --> 00:03:41,347 and what have you, yeah? 62 00:03:41,388 --> 00:03:42,514 Okay, all right, cool. 63 00:03:43,599 --> 00:03:45,309 - Gonna start with irk and jerk. 64 00:03:45,351 --> 00:03:48,312 Uh, huh, ha, ha. 65 00:03:48,354 --> 00:03:49,230 Yeah. 66 00:03:49,271 --> 00:03:51,232 Six, seven, eight, it goes. 67 00:03:51,273 --> 00:03:53,359 Huh, huh, huh, huh. 68 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:54,610 Yeah, so you're pulling that weight 69 00:03:54,652 --> 00:03:57,238 over to the left, left, and then right, right. 70 00:03:57,279 --> 00:03:59,156 Five, six, seven, eight. 71 00:03:59,198 --> 00:04:00,074 Go ha, ha, ha, ha. 72 00:04:01,617 --> 00:04:03,744 Five, (snapping) six, seven, eight. 73 00:04:03,786 --> 00:04:04,995 Ha, ha, ha, ha. 74 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:07,581 One more time and seven, eight. 75 00:04:07,623 --> 00:04:10,000 Go ha, ha, ha, ha. 76 00:04:10,042 --> 00:04:13,170 - [Rennie] Robert Battle, just called me out of the blue, 77 00:04:13,212 --> 00:04:15,381 and said, I want you to come do a piece 78 00:04:15,422 --> 00:04:19,176 about Mr. Ailey for the 60th anniversary of the company. 79 00:04:19,218 --> 00:04:22,554 - Here we go, top, six, seven, eight, go off the floor. 80 00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:27,559 Ha, ha, ha, ah, ah, ha, ha, go (scatting), 81 00:04:28,852 --> 00:04:30,396 six, seven, and eight. 82 00:04:30,437 --> 00:04:35,401 And step tap, step tap, step tap, (scatting). 83 00:04:38,112 --> 00:04:40,531 Yeah, yes. 84 00:04:40,572 --> 00:04:44,535 - The history of Ailey, it's off the scale. 85 00:04:44,576 --> 00:04:45,703 You know what I mean? 86 00:04:45,744 --> 00:04:48,330 How do you present something like 60 years? 87 00:04:48,372 --> 00:04:51,500 (instructor scatting) 88 00:04:56,088 --> 00:05:01,051 (Rennie scatting) (Rennie snapping) 89 00:05:03,804 --> 00:05:05,889 (instructor scatting) (students stomping) 90 00:05:05,931 --> 00:05:07,391 - Parallel if you can, all right? 91 00:05:07,433 --> 00:05:09,852 We're gonna start with making a vocabulary. 92 00:05:09,893 --> 00:05:12,563 If I can get the movement out, I can create the story. 93 00:05:13,564 --> 00:05:14,356 - [Student] Yeah! 94 00:05:14,398 --> 00:05:15,566 (snapping) 95 00:05:15,607 --> 00:05:19,445 - [Instructor] Two, three, four, five. 96 00:05:19,486 --> 00:05:22,614 (instructor scatting) 97 00:05:26,493 --> 00:05:28,412 - I always felt the dance was a natural part 98 00:05:28,454 --> 00:05:29,621 of what I wanted to express, 99 00:05:29,663 --> 00:05:31,332 that what I could do with my body was a part 100 00:05:31,373 --> 00:05:33,459 of a very important part of me. 101 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,086 And a way to release some of those things in myself 102 00:05:36,128 --> 00:05:37,421 that I had been looking for. 103 00:05:37,463 --> 00:05:39,465 (gentle operatic music) 104 00:05:39,506 --> 00:05:40,632 - There it is. 105 00:05:40,674 --> 00:05:41,925 (operatic music) 106 00:05:41,967 --> 00:05:48,265 ♪ Where you gonna run to all of that day ♪ 107 00:05:48,307 --> 00:05:49,725 ♪ Come to the rock ♪ 108 00:05:49,767 --> 00:05:51,477 ♪ Rock won't ya hide me ♪ 109 00:05:51,518 --> 00:05:52,811 ♪ Come to the rock ♪ 110 00:05:52,853 --> 00:05:54,646 ♪ Rock won't ya hide me ♪ 111 00:05:54,688 --> 00:05:56,273 - Yeah, that's a nice clip. 112 00:05:56,315 --> 00:05:57,399 Let's play that again. 113 00:05:58,525 --> 00:06:00,277 (mechanical clicking) 114 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:01,236 (audio crackling) 115 00:06:01,278 --> 00:06:02,488 - I'm Alvin Ailey. 116 00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:03,489 I'm a choreographer. 117 00:06:05,032 --> 00:06:07,993 I create movement and I'm searching for truth in movement. 118 00:06:08,994 --> 00:06:10,371 For dance to me... 119 00:06:10,412 --> 00:06:12,664 - [Rennie] I just sit there and watch, to find out 120 00:06:12,706 --> 00:06:15,209 what made Mr. Ailey, Mr. Ailey. 121 00:06:16,251 --> 00:06:17,711 - [Alvin] Reflect life. 122 00:06:17,753 --> 00:06:21,340 I choreograph. (soft slow music) 123 00:06:21,382 --> 00:06:24,301 Three, four, five, one, two, four, five, loose fingers. 124 00:06:28,555 --> 00:06:30,432 Show what's in your hand, yes. 125 00:06:34,353 --> 00:06:35,145 Good. 126 00:06:37,356 --> 00:06:40,526 The head accent there, round pump, yes. 127 00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:41,276 Four, five. 128 00:06:43,862 --> 00:06:49,034 - [Interviewer] Sunday, January 17, 1988, 129 00:06:49,076 --> 00:06:51,370 talking with Alvin Ailey. 130 00:06:54,248 --> 00:06:55,999 Do you feel as though you had to sacrifice anything 131 00:06:56,041 --> 00:06:57,543 to stay in dance? 132 00:06:57,584 --> 00:06:59,086 - [Alvin] Everything. 133 00:06:59,128 --> 00:07:01,505 Dance, it's an enormous sacrifice. 134 00:07:01,547 --> 00:07:03,674 I mean, it's a physical sacrifice. 135 00:07:03,715 --> 00:07:05,134 Dancing hurts. 136 00:07:05,175 --> 00:07:07,803 You don't make that much money. 137 00:07:08,804 --> 00:07:11,432 I mean, touring six months out of the year 138 00:07:11,473 --> 00:07:16,103 is disastrous on any kind of personal relation. 139 00:07:16,145 --> 00:07:17,354 It's a tough thing. 140 00:07:17,396 --> 00:07:19,481 You know, you have to be possessed to do dance. 141 00:07:19,982 --> 00:07:29,867 ♪♪ 142 00:07:30,909 --> 00:07:34,121 I came to New York City in 1954. 143 00:07:34,163 --> 00:07:37,124 (fast upbeat music) 144 00:07:51,263 --> 00:07:56,894 I was a live and springy 24, who loved to dance. 145 00:07:56,935 --> 00:07:59,897 (upbeat jazz music) 146 00:08:01,607 --> 00:08:03,817 It was a catch-as-catch-can dancer's life. 147 00:08:03,859 --> 00:08:06,653 Everybody that I could have ever dreamed of, 148 00:08:06,695 --> 00:08:09,781 was here in New York City and when I got here, 149 00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:11,492 I immediately jumped into classes 150 00:08:11,533 --> 00:08:13,076 with all of them. 151 00:08:16,330 --> 00:08:20,292 I studied with Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm. 152 00:08:23,462 --> 00:08:25,506 But I was the usual rebel 153 00:08:29,384 --> 00:08:31,261 and I had my own ideas. 154 00:08:34,598 --> 00:08:37,518 I had these creative fires bubbling inside. 155 00:08:39,561 --> 00:08:40,979 Dark, deep things. 156 00:08:41,021 --> 00:08:42,773 Beautiful things inside me that I'd always 157 00:08:42,814 --> 00:08:43,774 been trying to get out. 158 00:08:43,815 --> 00:08:46,777 (train rumbling) 159 00:08:47,277 --> 00:08:48,445 My blood memories. 160 00:08:48,487 --> 00:08:49,863 (distant yelling) 161 00:08:50,864 --> 00:08:55,035 The memories of my parents, uncles and aunts. 162 00:08:56,119 --> 00:08:59,831 Blues and the gospel songs that I knew from Texas. 163 00:09:00,582 --> 00:09:04,044 (chiming music) 164 00:09:04,086 --> 00:09:06,964 I was born in the Depression, 1931. 165 00:09:08,131 --> 00:09:12,594 Tough times, rural country. 166 00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:03,687 (wind whipping) 167 00:10:20,621 --> 00:10:24,082 (soft string music) 168 00:11:23,016 --> 00:11:24,935 (fast upbeat music) 169 00:11:24,976 --> 00:11:27,020 ♪ Listen here folks, we wanna sing a little song ♪ 170 00:11:27,062 --> 00:11:29,231 ♪ Don't get mad, we don't mean no harm ♪ 171 00:11:29,272 --> 00:11:30,816 ♪ You know, it's tight like that ♪ 172 00:11:30,857 --> 00:11:31,817 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 173 00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:33,235 ♪ Oh, it's tight like that ♪ 174 00:11:33,276 --> 00:11:34,319 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 175 00:11:34,361 --> 00:11:35,904 ♪ Oh, ya hear me talkin' to you ♪ 176 00:11:35,946 --> 00:11:38,615 ♪ I mean it's tight like that ♪ 177 00:11:41,284 --> 00:11:43,662 ♪ Made a date at the barn about-a half-past-ten ♪ 178 00:11:48,041 --> 00:11:49,042 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 179 00:11:49,084 --> 00:11:50,627 ♪ Oh, ya hear me talkin' to you ♪ 180 00:11:50,669 --> 00:11:54,506 ♪ I mean it's tight like that I went to see my gal ♪ 181 00:11:54,548 --> 00:11:55,716 ♪ Over across the hall ♪ 182 00:11:55,757 --> 00:11:57,342 ♪ Found another mule kicking in my door ♪ 183 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:00,637 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 184 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:01,805 ♪ Oh, it's tight like that ♪ 185 00:12:01,847 --> 00:12:03,223 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 186 00:12:10,939 --> 00:12:12,566 ♪ When she whip it, its too bad Jim ♪ 187 00:12:12,607 --> 00:12:13,817 ♪ You know, it's tight like that ♪ 188 00:12:19,322 --> 00:12:21,408 ♪ I mean it's tight like that ♪ 189 00:12:25,245 --> 00:12:26,496 ♪ Bum-bum-biddly got to carry me to town ♪ 190 00:12:26,538 --> 00:12:28,123 ♪ You know it's tough like that ♪ 191 00:12:28,165 --> 00:12:29,249 ♪ Beedle-um-Bum ♪ 192 00:12:29,291 --> 00:12:30,167 ♪ You know it's tight like that ♪ 193 00:12:39,384 --> 00:12:40,927 (gentle music) 194 00:12:42,971 --> 00:12:46,099 (gentle guitar music) 195 00:12:48,143 --> 00:12:50,604 ♪ I've cried ♪ 196 00:12:50,645 --> 00:12:53,857 - [Alvin] So, I made a dance called "Blues Suite." 197 00:12:53,899 --> 00:12:58,862 ♪ And the tears rolled down my cheeks ♪ 198 00:12:59,988 --> 00:13:05,160 ♪ Yes, I've cried ♪ 199 00:13:05,202 --> 00:13:10,040 ♪ Tear rolled down my cheeks ♪ 200 00:13:13,084 --> 00:13:18,006 ♪ I think about my baby ♪ 201 00:13:18,048 --> 00:13:22,344 ♪ Wants me the woman you used to be ♪ 202 00:13:25,013 --> 00:13:27,974 - [Alvin] "Blues Suite" is a reflection of that time. 203 00:13:30,352 --> 00:13:33,188 The problems, but the romance. 204 00:13:33,772 --> 00:13:37,734 We as a Black people have made something fantastic. 205 00:13:37,776 --> 00:13:39,820 The fact that Black people get through. 206 00:13:39,861 --> 00:13:44,074 ♪ Yes, I've cried ♪ 207 00:13:44,115 --> 00:13:49,079 ♪ Til the tears rolled down my cheeks ♪ 208 00:13:52,207 --> 00:13:57,045 ♪ I think about my baby ♪ 209 00:13:57,087 --> 00:14:01,466 ♪ Wants me the woman you used to be ♪ 210 00:14:05,387 --> 00:14:06,847 (students clapping) 211 00:14:06,888 --> 00:14:08,515 - [Instructor] Three, four, five, six, seven, eight, 212 00:14:08,557 --> 00:14:12,185 and two, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, 213 00:14:12,227 --> 00:14:15,856 and three, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, 214 00:14:15,897 --> 00:14:20,277 and four, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. 215 00:14:20,318 --> 00:14:22,696 - Okay, let's try this group and this group here. 216 00:14:22,737 --> 00:14:24,239 Still do what you do. 217 00:14:24,281 --> 00:14:26,867 All right, five, six, seven, eight, and. 218 00:14:26,908 --> 00:14:28,952 - [Instructor] One, two, three, four, 219 00:14:28,994 --> 00:14:30,745 five, six, seven, eight, and. 220 00:14:30,787 --> 00:14:33,248 (students clapping) 221 00:14:33,290 --> 00:14:35,500 - I want you pointing down. 222 00:14:36,793 --> 00:14:38,503 Five, six, seven, eight, and. 223 00:14:38,545 --> 00:14:42,966 - [Instructor] One, two, three, four, six, eight, and. 224 00:14:43,008 --> 00:14:46,136 - Mr. Ailey talked about blood memories. 225 00:14:46,177 --> 00:14:47,304 What his parents went through, 226 00:14:47,345 --> 00:14:48,597 his parents' parents went through, 227 00:14:48,638 --> 00:14:49,806 what his folk went through. 228 00:14:49,848 --> 00:14:51,933 And that was a major key for me. 229 00:14:53,518 --> 00:14:54,603 (gentle string music) 230 00:14:54,644 --> 00:14:57,564 Memory, that was the anchor. 231 00:15:04,487 --> 00:15:07,115 (upbeat swing music) 232 00:15:07,157 --> 00:15:11,870 ♪ Don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing ♪ 233 00:15:11,912 --> 00:15:14,372 ♪ Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah doo wah ♪ 234 00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:15,957 ♪ Doo wah, doo wah, doo wah ♪ 235 00:15:15,999 --> 00:15:18,460 - [Alvin] I moved to Los Angeles when I was 12, 236 00:15:18,501 --> 00:15:20,170 at the beginning of World Word II. 237 00:15:22,339 --> 00:15:27,469 It was a vibrant, alive, a different kind of environment. 238 00:15:27,510 --> 00:15:29,012 (horn honking) 239 00:15:29,346 --> 00:15:31,848 When I was 14, I discovered the theater. 240 00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:33,224 (soft orchestral music) 241 00:15:33,266 --> 00:15:35,226 Where I first saw the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. 242 00:15:46,613 --> 00:15:49,240 And here was a new world. 243 00:15:55,038 --> 00:15:58,917 It became my ritual then, to come downtown. 244 00:16:02,671 --> 00:16:04,798 I saw everything that came along. 245 00:16:07,759 --> 00:16:09,844 But there was nobody Black, 246 00:16:09,886 --> 00:16:12,764 nobody to model oneself after. 247 00:16:13,682 --> 00:16:16,267 (upbeat band music) 248 00:16:16,309 --> 00:16:21,272 (people cheering) (man humming) 249 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,861 And then one day, I saw Katherine Dunham. 250 00:16:32,075 --> 00:16:37,038 (woman humming) (people cheering) 251 00:16:39,416 --> 00:16:42,210 (people singing in Spanish) 252 00:16:42,252 --> 00:16:45,255 I couldn't believe that here are Black people 253 00:16:45,296 --> 00:16:47,424 on a legitimate stage. 254 00:16:47,465 --> 00:16:50,760 (ethereal music) 255 00:16:50,802 --> 00:16:53,555 I was just taken into another realm. 256 00:16:56,266 --> 00:17:00,228 And here was this unbelievable creature. 257 00:17:04,607 --> 00:17:07,944 And male dancers who were just superb. 258 00:17:10,405 --> 00:17:12,782 The jumps, the agility, the sensuality 259 00:17:12,824 --> 00:17:15,035 of what they did blew me away. 260 00:17:18,705 --> 00:17:20,623 And the material. 261 00:17:21,332 --> 00:17:23,668 What she was doing was Afro-Caribbean. 262 00:17:23,710 --> 00:17:26,546 It was blues, it was spirituals. 263 00:17:26,588 --> 00:17:30,425 And it touched something Texas in me. 264 00:17:56,242 --> 00:17:58,620 But my gym teacher decided that I should 265 00:17:58,661 --> 00:18:00,538 be on the football team. 266 00:18:00,914 --> 00:18:02,791 So he made me a right tackle. 267 00:18:02,832 --> 00:18:04,834 And I said, "Coach, you know, 268 00:18:04,876 --> 00:18:07,712 I have these people running and knocking me down 269 00:18:07,754 --> 00:18:09,547 and this is not gonna work." 270 00:18:11,174 --> 00:18:12,133 He said, "What's wrong with you? 271 00:18:12,175 --> 00:18:13,551 You some kind of a sissy?" 272 00:18:13,843 --> 00:18:16,513 And I wanted to say, "Yes!" (laughing) 273 00:18:16,554 --> 00:18:19,224 (ethereal music) 274 00:18:22,936 --> 00:18:26,523 - I saw Alvin in the gymnastics class. 275 00:18:26,564 --> 00:18:27,982 They had free exercises. 276 00:18:28,024 --> 00:18:30,652 You know, it was all slow motion. 277 00:18:30,693 --> 00:18:32,737 It was more like dancing, actually. 278 00:18:32,779 --> 00:18:34,656 And he was beautiful. 279 00:18:36,074 --> 00:18:38,743 But he didn't dare let anybody know that he wanted 280 00:18:38,785 --> 00:18:43,581 to be a dancer, because he would be teased or humiliated. 281 00:18:43,623 --> 00:18:45,875 (soft piano music) 282 00:18:45,917 --> 00:18:47,794 But I told him, you oughta be a dancer. 283 00:18:50,797 --> 00:18:53,675 - Alvin was the kid who was handsome. 284 00:18:53,716 --> 00:18:55,677 He was charismatic. 285 00:18:55,718 --> 00:18:57,595 We became fast friends. 286 00:18:59,806 --> 00:19:02,851 We went to parties together. 287 00:19:02,892 --> 00:19:05,353 We were always in each other's company. 288 00:19:08,231 --> 00:19:12,902 And then realizing that we both had an interest in dance, 289 00:19:15,446 --> 00:19:20,410 that propelled me to follow him to the Horton School 290 00:19:21,286 --> 00:19:22,829 to watch his class with Carmen 291 00:19:22,871 --> 00:19:24,998 and we walked through those doors. 292 00:19:26,332 --> 00:19:28,835 It's like you're going into a different world. 293 00:20:20,887 --> 00:20:23,431 (upbeat music) 294 00:20:41,491 --> 00:20:45,745 - [Alvin]. It was just a complete education. 295 00:20:45,787 --> 00:20:48,248 Lester taught us to justify movement. 296 00:20:48,289 --> 00:20:52,252 Not just to do a step but to feel something about the step. 297 00:20:53,086 --> 00:20:57,840 Not just to do a plie, but to give it some kind of emotion. 298 00:21:01,386 --> 00:21:04,055 - Lester induced us to 299 00:21:06,307 --> 00:21:10,353 to search and Alvin did. 300 00:21:10,937 --> 00:21:13,731 He went to his resources. 301 00:21:13,773 --> 00:21:15,233 (ethereal music) 302 00:21:15,275 --> 00:21:18,569 He drew on his experiences and that was his beginning. 303 00:21:22,115 --> 00:21:24,742 (upbeat percussive music) 304 00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:25,910 (clapping) 305 00:21:25,952 --> 00:21:28,746 (muffled singing) 306 00:21:35,712 --> 00:21:39,215 - [Rennie] I see the dancer as the physical historian. 307 00:21:39,257 --> 00:21:41,509 The dancer holds the information from the past, 308 00:21:41,551 --> 00:21:42,885 the present, and the future. 309 00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:49,434 Why a particular movement was relevant or important, 310 00:21:49,475 --> 00:21:51,185 why it was valued in my community. 311 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,275 (muffled singing) 312 00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:06,701 (muffled singing) 313 00:22:06,743 --> 00:22:10,705 They have this information stored in their body. 314 00:22:13,249 --> 00:22:15,960 (ethereal music) 315 00:22:24,886 --> 00:22:27,013 - [Pastor] If the Lord gets ready, 316 00:22:27,055 --> 00:22:29,265 Child, you've got to move. 317 00:22:30,016 --> 00:22:34,103 The Lord gets ready, you got to move. 318 00:22:34,854 --> 00:22:37,273 You got to move, you got to move. 319 00:22:39,901 --> 00:22:42,236 Every Sunday, we were at church. 320 00:22:44,489 --> 00:22:46,866 Praise God to the almighty. 321 00:22:52,288 --> 00:22:55,124 Our beautiful Black songs from the churches. 322 00:22:55,166 --> 00:22:56,501 The joy of these people, 323 00:22:56,542 --> 00:22:59,212 of my aunts and uncles exploding in church. 324 00:22:59,253 --> 00:23:01,172 It's something that was always with me. 325 00:23:03,633 --> 00:23:06,594 I remember there was this procession of people 326 00:23:06,636 --> 00:23:08,179 all in white. 327 00:23:11,182 --> 00:23:13,184 They sang "Wade in the Water." 328 00:23:13,226 --> 00:23:16,187 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 329 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:24,445 - [Alvin] I came up with a piece. 330 00:23:24,487 --> 00:23:29,409 An evening long saga of the Black experience. 331 00:23:29,450 --> 00:23:30,535 (distant choral singing) 332 00:23:34,038 --> 00:23:39,001 ♪ I've been 'buked and I've been scorned ♪ 333 00:23:43,548 --> 00:23:48,094 ♪ Yes, I've been 'buked ♪ 334 00:23:48,136 --> 00:23:51,472 ♪ and I've been scorned ♪ 335 00:23:51,514 --> 00:23:56,477 ♪ Children ♪ 336 00:23:58,229 --> 00:24:01,482 ♪ I've been 'buked ♪ 337 00:24:01,524 --> 00:24:10,533 ♪ and I've been scorned ♪ 338 00:24:10,575 --> 00:24:14,954 ♪ I've been talked about ♪ 339 00:24:14,996 --> 00:24:21,961 ♪ show's you're born ♪ 340 00:24:22,628 --> 00:24:27,300 ♪ There is trouble all over this world ♪ 341 00:24:27,341 --> 00:24:32,013 ♪ Yes, there is trouble all over this world ♪ 342 00:24:32,054 --> 00:24:37,018 ♪ Children ♪ 343 00:24:41,439 --> 00:24:44,400 ♪ I've been 'buked ♪ 344 00:24:44,442 --> 00:24:50,406 ♪ and I've been scorned ♪ 345 00:24:56,204 --> 00:25:01,167 ♪ I've been talked about ♪ 346 00:25:02,084 --> 00:25:10,134 ♪ show's you're born ♪ 347 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:20,019 - I was moved to tears, seeing "Revelations." 348 00:25:20,061 --> 00:25:22,146 I was studying ballet. 349 00:25:22,188 --> 00:25:26,275 I was studying modern dance. 350 00:25:26,317 --> 00:25:30,947 And this was more of 351 00:25:30,988 --> 00:25:34,700 a reenactment of life. 352 00:25:34,742 --> 00:25:41,999 ♪ Oh fix me, Jesus ♪ 353 00:25:42,333 --> 00:25:50,258 ♪ Oh, fix me, Jesus ♪ 354 00:25:50,633 --> 00:25:57,640 ♪ Oh, fix me, Lord ♪ 355 00:25:58,057 --> 00:26:02,228 ♪ Fix me, Jesus ♪ 356 00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:06,148 ♪ Fix me ♪ 357 00:26:07,525 --> 00:26:11,404 - Here was something where these were human beings 358 00:26:11,445 --> 00:26:13,656 and they were dancing with joy 359 00:26:13,698 --> 00:26:16,909 and passion and anger and sorrow. 360 00:26:18,953 --> 00:26:23,708 ♪ Fix me, Jesus ♪ 361 00:26:23,749 --> 00:26:31,299 ♪ Oh, fix me, Lord ♪ 362 00:26:31,674 --> 00:26:36,429 ♪ Fix me, Jesus ♪ 363 00:26:36,470 --> 00:26:38,764 ♪ Fix me ♪ 364 00:26:41,434 --> 00:26:43,686 - I thought to myself, wow. 365 00:26:43,728 --> 00:26:45,354 This is what I wanna do. 366 00:26:45,396 --> 00:26:47,815 ♪ Oh, sinner man ♪ 367 00:26:47,857 --> 00:26:49,191 ♪ Oh ♪ 368 00:26:49,233 --> 00:26:52,820 ♪ Where you gonna run to ♪ 369 00:26:52,862 --> 00:26:56,991 ♪ All of that ♪ 370 00:26:57,033 --> 00:27:00,161 ♪ Run, run, run, run ♪ 371 00:27:00,202 --> 00:27:07,126 ♪ Run to the rock, rock won't ya hide me ♪ 372 00:27:07,209 --> 00:27:10,421 ♪ Run to the rock, rock won't ya hide me ♪ 373 00:27:10,463 --> 00:27:13,674 ♪ All on that day ♪ 374 00:27:13,716 --> 00:27:15,343 ♪ Run, run ♪ 375 00:27:15,384 --> 00:27:22,058 ♪ The Lord said sinner man, the rock will be a melting ♪ 376 00:27:22,141 --> 00:27:23,351 ♪ The Lord said sinner man ♪ 377 00:27:23,392 --> 00:27:26,771 - Alvin entertained my thoughts and dreams 378 00:27:27,938 --> 00:27:32,610 that a Black boy could actually dance. 379 00:27:33,819 --> 00:27:35,363 ♪ You run to the sea ♪ 380 00:27:35,404 --> 00:27:36,947 ♪ Sea won't ya hide me ♪ 381 00:27:36,989 --> 00:27:43,537 ♪ Run to the sea, sea won't ya hide me ♪ 382 00:27:43,621 --> 00:27:44,789 ♪ All ♪ 383 00:27:44,830 --> 00:27:48,459 - It was a universe that I could go into. 384 00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:53,464 I could escape to, that would allow me to do 385 00:27:53,506 --> 00:27:55,007 anything that I wanted to. 386 00:27:55,049 --> 00:27:58,636 (swelling choral music) 387 00:27:58,678 --> 00:27:59,470 (upbeat music) 388 00:27:59,512 --> 00:28:02,348 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 389 00:28:02,431 --> 00:28:05,726 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 390 00:28:05,768 --> 00:28:09,397 ♪ Wade in the water, children ♪ 391 00:28:09,438 --> 00:28:12,817 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 392 00:28:12,858 --> 00:28:16,112 ♪ God's a gonna trouble the water ♪ 393 00:28:16,153 --> 00:28:20,032 ♪ Why don't you wade in the water ♪ 394 00:28:20,074 --> 00:28:23,202 ♪ Wade in the water, children ♪ 395 00:28:23,244 --> 00:28:26,956 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 396 00:28:26,997 --> 00:28:30,292 ♪ God's a gonna trouble the water ♪ 397 00:28:30,334 --> 00:28:34,130 ♪ See that man all dressed in white ♪ 398 00:28:34,171 --> 00:28:36,966 ♪ God's a gonna trouble the water ♪ 399 00:28:37,007 --> 00:28:41,011 ♪ Oh, it looks like a band of the Israelites ♪ 400 00:28:41,053 --> 00:28:42,555 ♪ God's a trouble ♪ 401 00:28:42,596 --> 00:28:48,352 - [Judith] All the familiarity of my African American-ness 402 00:28:48,853 --> 00:28:51,939 was all identified in "Revelations." 403 00:28:53,023 --> 00:28:54,817 ♪ Wade in the water ♪ 404 00:28:54,859 --> 00:28:56,444 - [Judith] The narrative of church. 405 00:28:56,485 --> 00:28:58,446 That was important to me. 406 00:28:58,487 --> 00:28:59,947 ♪ See that ♪ 407 00:28:59,989 --> 00:29:03,534 - What took me away was the prowess and the technique 408 00:29:03,576 --> 00:29:06,370 and the fluidity and the 409 00:29:06,412 --> 00:29:09,165 excellence in the dance that I saw. 410 00:29:09,206 --> 00:29:09,957 In the dance. 411 00:29:09,999 --> 00:29:13,210 That was the miracle. 412 00:29:13,252 --> 00:29:16,005 ♪ Trouble the water ♪ 413 00:29:16,046 --> 00:29:23,304 ♪ Oh he gonna trouble the water ♪ 414 00:29:23,387 --> 00:29:27,433 ♪ Oh he's gonna trouble the water ♪ 415 00:30:13,646 --> 00:30:15,606 (audience applause) 416 00:30:30,538 --> 00:30:33,332 (airplane engine roaring) 417 00:30:33,374 --> 00:30:35,835 (harmonizing) 418 00:30:37,211 --> 00:30:57,106 ♪♪ 419 00:30:57,189 --> 00:31:05,739 ♪♪ 420 00:31:09,994 --> 00:31:12,538 (cars honking) 421 00:31:21,797 --> 00:31:23,757 - I came to New York to be in a ballet 422 00:31:23,799 --> 00:31:27,511 called The Four Marys, with the American Ballet Theater. 423 00:31:28,596 --> 00:31:30,973 (soft music) 424 00:31:35,728 --> 00:31:37,688 It was a wonderful place to be in. 425 00:31:38,814 --> 00:31:41,525 But when The Four Marys was over, 426 00:31:41,567 --> 00:31:43,444 there were no more positions. 427 00:31:43,485 --> 00:31:47,573 You were very specially a guest artist there. 428 00:31:47,615 --> 00:31:48,741 You know, you could move 429 00:31:48,782 --> 00:31:50,242 into this neighborhood for a minute 430 00:31:50,284 --> 00:31:52,995 but after you finished doing your gig, please move out. 431 00:31:54,622 --> 00:31:57,625 But what was coming next? 432 00:31:57,666 --> 00:31:59,168 I did not know. 433 00:32:03,714 --> 00:32:06,634 - [Alvin] I was sitting on these steps watching an audition, 434 00:32:06,675 --> 00:32:11,513 and Judi was one of many girls that inspired the set. 435 00:32:12,222 --> 00:32:14,224 I couldn't help but notice her. 436 00:32:14,266 --> 00:32:16,477 The length of the legs, the feet, 437 00:32:16,518 --> 00:32:19,605 the back, those arms, that head. 438 00:32:19,647 --> 00:32:22,733 I said, "Oh my God, she's here." 439 00:32:24,735 --> 00:32:27,112 (soft music) 440 00:32:30,491 --> 00:32:34,286 - I failed that audition so miserable, I was so terrible. 441 00:32:35,371 --> 00:32:37,665 And I ran up the steps, and there was a man 442 00:32:37,706 --> 00:32:40,668 sitting on the steps who I couldn't even see who it was, 443 00:32:40,709 --> 00:32:42,086 it was Alvin Ailey. 444 00:32:42,127 --> 00:32:43,671 And he called me, 445 00:32:43,712 --> 00:32:45,339 and asked me to join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. 446 00:32:45,381 --> 00:32:48,258 Boom, that was it. 447 00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:50,719 - And, one, two, three, four 448 00:32:50,761 --> 00:32:51,762 one, two, three, four 449 00:32:51,804 --> 00:32:52,596 one, two, three 450 00:32:52,638 --> 00:32:53,555 one, two three 451 00:32:53,597 --> 00:32:56,350 one, two, one, two, one. 452 00:32:56,392 --> 00:32:58,018 One, two, one, two, 453 00:32:58,060 --> 00:33:00,229 one, two, one, two, one. 454 00:33:00,270 --> 00:33:00,980 (feet stomping) 455 00:33:01,021 --> 00:33:02,398 One, two, three, four. 456 00:33:03,941 --> 00:33:05,317 Three, four, one, two, three, four. 457 00:33:05,359 --> 00:33:07,945 one, two, three, one, two, one, two. 458 00:33:09,530 --> 00:33:10,364 (fingers snap) 459 00:33:10,406 --> 00:33:11,824 - Dancing with Alvin was hard. 460 00:33:13,534 --> 00:33:14,410 - One, two, three, four, 461 00:33:14,451 --> 00:33:15,786 one, two, three, one, two, three. 462 00:33:15,828 --> 00:33:18,205 One two one two one. 463 00:33:18,247 --> 00:33:19,873 - [Dancer] Great! - Argh! 464 00:33:19,915 --> 00:33:21,083 - Good job. 465 00:33:22,209 --> 00:33:23,419 Yeah, yeah... 466 00:33:24,294 --> 00:33:26,422 Count 18 and then start. 467 00:33:26,463 --> 00:33:28,632 - He would give you that look. 468 00:33:28,674 --> 00:33:32,803 You were wrong, you did wrong, this is the look 469 00:33:32,845 --> 00:33:35,055 (laughing) 470 00:33:35,097 --> 00:33:38,100 And that was Alvin. 471 00:33:41,228 --> 00:33:43,856 - He would say things famously like, 472 00:33:43,897 --> 00:33:45,774 "Would you do my choreography?" 473 00:33:47,526 --> 00:33:50,195 But he was also terribly encouraging. 474 00:33:51,697 --> 00:33:53,866 The exchanges that all of us had 475 00:33:53,907 --> 00:33:57,286 were full of large embraces. 476 00:33:59,163 --> 00:34:01,999 If he was talking to you from 50 feet away, 477 00:34:02,041 --> 00:34:04,168 you would feel that embrace. 478 00:34:04,209 --> 00:34:05,878 You would feel that comfort in knowing 479 00:34:05,919 --> 00:34:09,548 that you could make an absolute fool of yourself. 480 00:34:09,590 --> 00:34:14,970 You know, you would feel safe to extend yourself enough 481 00:34:15,929 --> 00:34:17,306 so that you felt free. 482 00:34:18,182 --> 00:34:19,600 - Right. 483 00:34:20,476 --> 00:34:22,519 I'm sorry to your left. 484 00:34:24,605 --> 00:34:25,731 - [Alvin] I love the idea of people 485 00:34:25,773 --> 00:34:27,941 coming and working together. 486 00:34:30,235 --> 00:34:32,863 I loved the idea of the discipline. 487 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:39,161 - Open and settle your break very quickly. 488 00:34:41,163 --> 00:34:42,289 You and I, as choreographers start 489 00:34:42,331 --> 00:34:44,750 with an empty space and a body or two 490 00:34:44,792 --> 00:34:47,294 and we say "carve this space." 491 00:34:48,921 --> 00:34:51,381 I love creating something where there was nothing before. 492 00:34:57,638 --> 00:35:07,637 ♪♪ 493 00:35:07,689 --> 00:35:17,688 ♪♪ 494 00:35:19,576 --> 00:35:21,954 - Dance dilutes folk. 495 00:35:21,995 --> 00:35:26,500 ♪♪ 496 00:35:26,542 --> 00:35:29,503 How it affects the body, how it affects society, 497 00:35:29,545 --> 00:35:30,504 and how it's healing. 498 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:36,760 As choreographers we are the ones that are reaching out, 499 00:35:36,802 --> 00:35:39,138 navigating the spirit. 500 00:35:39,179 --> 00:35:41,723 (upbeat music) 501 00:35:41,765 --> 00:35:47,896 ♪♪ 502 00:35:47,938 --> 00:35:49,398 - Mr. Ailey, 503 00:35:49,439 --> 00:35:53,402 he was the train moving to spaces and shifting geographies 504 00:35:53,443 --> 00:35:54,236 and people. 505 00:35:56,196 --> 00:35:58,407 And we needed that bullet train. 506 00:35:58,448 --> 00:36:01,034 (upbeat music) 507 00:36:01,076 --> 00:36:11,044 ♪♪ 508 00:36:16,383 --> 00:36:18,510 - I wanted to do the kind of dance 509 00:36:18,552 --> 00:36:20,512 that could be done for the man on the streets, 510 00:36:20,554 --> 00:36:21,930 the people. 511 00:36:21,972 --> 00:36:23,515 I wanted to show the black people 512 00:36:23,557 --> 00:36:25,309 that they could come down to these concert halls 513 00:36:25,350 --> 00:36:29,563 that it was part of their culture being done there. 514 00:36:29,605 --> 00:36:34,902 And that it was universal. 515 00:36:34,943 --> 00:36:37,321 (soft music) 516 00:36:42,951 --> 00:36:45,829 - The upcoming major, major event 517 00:36:45,871 --> 00:36:49,499 was like a the seven or nine week tour of one-nighters 518 00:36:49,541 --> 00:36:51,960 throughout the United States. 519 00:36:52,002 --> 00:36:56,548 And Alvin was in a frenzied state. 520 00:36:56,590 --> 00:37:00,552 - A friend of mine recommended me as a stage manager to Alvin. 521 00:37:00,594 --> 00:37:03,305 And I said, "How much do they pay?" 522 00:37:03,347 --> 00:37:06,391 And she said, "Oh they don't have any money." 523 00:37:06,433 --> 00:37:09,311 I said, "Okay well you know I'll volunteer 524 00:37:09,353 --> 00:37:11,563 and let's see how it goes." 525 00:37:13,273 --> 00:37:15,484 And right after that, 526 00:37:15,525 --> 00:37:19,029 all of us, including Alvin were on a bus. 527 00:37:19,071 --> 00:37:20,656 - One bus. 528 00:37:20,697 --> 00:37:24,409 Costumes, lighting, everything one bus. 529 00:37:25,827 --> 00:37:28,205 - The ladder was down the center aisle. 530 00:37:28,247 --> 00:37:31,041 The stools for "Revelations" were underneath. 531 00:37:31,083 --> 00:37:33,794 - The luggage, fans everything. 532 00:37:33,835 --> 00:37:36,546 We travel six, seven hours a day. 533 00:37:36,922 --> 00:37:41,343 And you were doing a state a night. 534 00:37:41,385 --> 00:37:45,931 And you'd drive up, get there, jump off and rehearse. 535 00:37:45,973 --> 00:37:52,521 ♪♪ 536 00:37:52,562 --> 00:37:57,234 Perform, find some place to eat after the performance, 537 00:37:57,276 --> 00:37:59,361 and this was before fast food really. 538 00:37:59,403 --> 00:38:02,906 You know, we're like truck stops, there we go. 539 00:38:03,532 --> 00:38:05,742 - Go to bed get up the next morning. 540 00:38:06,868 --> 00:38:09,496 Same thing all over again in another town. 541 00:38:09,538 --> 00:38:11,915 (soft music) 542 00:38:16,211 --> 00:38:18,588 (applause) 543 00:38:23,510 --> 00:38:25,637 - It was a multi-racial company. 544 00:38:27,597 --> 00:38:30,767 I was very concerned about the treatment 545 00:38:30,809 --> 00:38:33,186 arriving at a hotel, or motel. 546 00:38:35,147 --> 00:38:40,110 I don't wanna hear anything about we don't have any rooms. 547 00:38:40,152 --> 00:38:42,529 - One time in Kirksville, Missouri 548 00:38:43,655 --> 00:38:48,076 this hotel was absolutely dreadful. 549 00:38:50,078 --> 00:38:52,372 After the performance the next day, 550 00:38:52,414 --> 00:38:54,124 we passed the Holiday Inn. 551 00:38:55,167 --> 00:38:56,418 And we were wondering, 552 00:38:56,460 --> 00:38:58,628 why weren't we in that hotel? 553 00:39:02,049 --> 00:39:04,343 - I sent pictures and reviews, 554 00:39:04,384 --> 00:39:06,720 to the hotels where the company's going 555 00:39:06,762 --> 00:39:09,306 so it won't be as surprise when they get there. 556 00:39:10,849 --> 00:39:13,560 I didn't want them to have to go through that. 557 00:39:20,859 --> 00:39:24,738 - It was whirlwind, when the tours came in. 558 00:39:25,781 --> 00:39:28,492 (man speaking French) 559 00:39:28,533 --> 00:39:32,162 The European tours, Paris. 560 00:39:33,413 --> 00:39:34,998 London after that. 561 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:36,875 - [Interviewer] You had a very great success last time, 562 00:39:36,917 --> 00:39:37,417 in Holland hadn't you? 563 00:39:37,459 --> 00:39:38,960 - Yes we did. 564 00:39:39,002 --> 00:39:41,088 - This is our first performance anywhere with the new group. 565 00:39:41,129 --> 00:39:42,631 - [Interviewer] Are you nervous? 566 00:39:42,672 --> 00:39:43,548 - But of course. 567 00:39:45,133 --> 00:39:48,095 (reporter speaking French) 568 00:39:48,136 --> 00:39:50,597 - [Interviewer] In the studio with me I have Alvin Ailey 569 00:39:50,639 --> 00:39:53,517 the the artistic director of the American Dance theater. 570 00:39:53,558 --> 00:39:55,102 - [Alvin] Thank you very much, it's nice to be here. 571 00:39:55,143 --> 00:39:57,229 - [Reporter] The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 572 00:39:57,270 --> 00:40:00,524 is one of the most important contemporary dance companies 573 00:40:00,565 --> 00:40:01,900 in the world. 574 00:40:01,942 --> 00:40:04,277 (soft music) 575 00:40:04,319 --> 00:40:09,783 ♪♪ 576 00:40:09,825 --> 00:40:12,869 - People were just, oh my God 577 00:40:12,911 --> 00:40:14,579 they never seen anything like it. 578 00:40:17,624 --> 00:40:19,793 (applause) 579 00:40:19,835 --> 00:40:22,796 They loved the company, they really did. 580 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:26,258 (applause) 581 00:40:27,092 --> 00:40:29,136 In Stuttgart, Germany 582 00:40:29,177 --> 00:40:32,139 they wouldn't let us off the stage. 583 00:40:32,180 --> 00:40:35,976 It was about eighty some bows that we had to do. 584 00:40:36,017 --> 00:40:39,271 I've never seen people, stand up, 585 00:40:39,312 --> 00:40:42,232 take their shoes off and hit the wall. 586 00:40:42,274 --> 00:40:47,154 No matter what we did, those people would not go home. 587 00:40:47,654 --> 00:40:53,452 Take their shoes off, bang on the wall chairs. 588 00:40:53,493 --> 00:40:56,496 They were going to stay there all night if possible. 589 00:40:58,415 --> 00:41:00,834 (soft music) 590 00:41:02,544 --> 00:41:03,879 - They were wonderful times 591 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:07,299 because we were kind of a family. 592 00:41:12,512 --> 00:41:14,014 - We all loved Alvin, 593 00:41:16,183 --> 00:41:18,935 but we weren't around Alvin during the day. 594 00:41:19,978 --> 00:41:22,189 Seldom saw Alvin. 595 00:41:27,319 --> 00:41:32,282 It was like, Alvin was here, the company was here. 596 00:41:35,577 --> 00:41:37,662 Something was happening with him. 597 00:41:39,498 --> 00:41:43,084 One time I came up onstage 598 00:41:43,126 --> 00:41:45,420 and Alvin came up onstage 599 00:41:45,462 --> 00:41:48,423 and he grabbed me and he 600 00:41:48,465 --> 00:41:50,300 rolled up into the curtain. 601 00:41:50,342 --> 00:41:51,968 The curtain we rolled up... 602 00:41:52,010 --> 00:41:53,845 I say, "Alvin of what are you... 603 00:41:53,887 --> 00:41:55,972 What is wrong with you?" 604 00:41:56,014 --> 00:41:59,226 He said, "I don't know, 605 00:41:59,893 --> 00:42:01,770 I don't know." 606 00:42:02,771 --> 00:42:07,067 It's like another person inside the person. 607 00:42:08,276 --> 00:42:11,279 It wasn't the Alvin that we see all the time. 608 00:42:12,781 --> 00:42:15,575 - He needed a person that he could talk to. 609 00:42:15,617 --> 00:42:17,619 A partner or a someone. 610 00:42:19,329 --> 00:42:21,540 Alvin did not have that. 611 00:42:23,250 --> 00:42:26,586 - He would have relationships, but intermittent. 612 00:42:29,256 --> 00:42:33,468 That kind of one-on-one relationship, he didn't have, 613 00:42:34,636 --> 00:42:36,096 except with his mother. 614 00:42:37,639 --> 00:42:42,727 I was an only child, also the same as Alvin 615 00:42:42,769 --> 00:42:44,479 so I understood that. 616 00:42:48,316 --> 00:42:52,571 My relationship was always with the company 617 00:42:52,612 --> 00:42:57,409 with the Ailey company, that became family to me. 618 00:42:58,868 --> 00:43:00,579 As it was to Alvin. 619 00:43:18,013 --> 00:43:21,308 - He had this idea and this vision. 620 00:43:23,018 --> 00:43:26,313 Alvin was driven to work. 621 00:43:36,698 --> 00:43:39,909 ♪ There is a house ♪ 622 00:43:56,509 --> 00:44:00,889 ♪ It's been the ruin ♪ 623 00:44:00,930 --> 00:44:05,560 ♪ of many a poor boy ♪ 624 00:44:05,602 --> 00:44:09,856 ♪ And God, I know I'm one. ♪ 625 00:44:09,898 --> 00:44:12,984 - We didn't have to go out on the street and protest, 626 00:44:13,026 --> 00:44:14,527 our protest was on the stage. 627 00:44:15,695 --> 00:44:20,659 ♪ If I ever listened ♪ 628 00:44:21,451 --> 00:44:26,039 ♪ What my mama said ♪ 629 00:44:26,081 --> 00:44:29,709 ♪ I'd have been at home today ♪ 630 00:44:29,751 --> 00:44:31,961 - This was Alvin's art. 631 00:44:32,003 --> 00:44:35,048 This is what he took up as his crusade. 632 00:44:35,382 --> 00:44:44,099 ♪♪ 633 00:44:44,140 --> 00:44:46,184 - This is our march to freedom. 634 00:44:47,435 --> 00:44:49,771 (soft music) 635 00:45:12,168 --> 00:45:16,381 - The death of Fred Hampton. 636 00:45:16,423 --> 00:45:19,509 The police had just broken into his apartment 637 00:45:19,551 --> 00:45:22,345 in the middle of the night, Shot him point blank range. 638 00:45:25,390 --> 00:45:26,933 - There was a photograph in the newspaper, 639 00:45:26,975 --> 00:45:30,520 of this young black man in this tiny room, 640 00:45:30,562 --> 00:45:33,690 like a rat with all these police holes around him. 641 00:45:36,901 --> 00:45:37,777 I mean, I can't get over that 642 00:45:37,819 --> 00:45:39,112 I'm a black man living in this. 643 00:45:39,154 --> 00:45:40,572 You know what I mean? 644 00:45:40,613 --> 00:45:43,241 If you're being followed by a search light, 645 00:45:43,283 --> 00:45:45,076 if you're being chased by the police. 646 00:45:47,829 --> 00:45:57,505 ♪♪ 647 00:45:57,547 --> 00:45:59,758 (Alvin vocalizing to the music) 648 00:45:59,799 --> 00:46:03,011 Masekela came from a very deep feeling 649 00:46:03,052 --> 00:46:06,055 of you know, rage and anger about the situation. 650 00:46:06,097 --> 00:46:07,140 - Nice. 651 00:46:07,182 --> 00:46:10,143 ♪♪ 652 00:46:10,185 --> 00:46:12,729 Nice stop the music, would you? 653 00:46:12,771 --> 00:46:14,731 Yeah, no. 654 00:46:14,773 --> 00:46:16,775 Let's try the... 655 00:46:16,816 --> 00:46:19,778 I want to feel like you're in jail. 656 00:46:19,819 --> 00:46:21,696 Like you're behind bars. 657 00:46:21,738 --> 00:46:24,616 And I wanna feel all the anger and the cutting. 658 00:46:24,657 --> 00:46:26,618 I wanna feel like you've being pressed down 659 00:46:26,659 --> 00:46:28,119 when we take the arabesque. 660 00:46:28,161 --> 00:46:31,456 I want to feel the sense of cursing at the outside room. 661 00:46:31,498 --> 00:46:32,957 Yeah, let's try it again. 662 00:46:34,751 --> 00:46:36,044 Very difficult to do on the floors. 663 00:46:36,085 --> 00:46:37,045 Yes. 664 00:46:40,590 --> 00:46:42,884 (soft music) 665 00:46:42,926 --> 00:46:52,894 ♪♪ 666 00:46:54,354 --> 00:46:57,315 - Choreography was his catharsis. 667 00:46:57,357 --> 00:46:59,442 And a lot of times I've felt 668 00:46:59,484 --> 00:47:02,153 that even the woman in the black dress was really him. 669 00:47:03,780 --> 00:47:06,282 (upbeat music) 670 00:47:22,799 --> 00:47:25,134 - The character he created on me, 671 00:47:25,176 --> 00:47:28,096 dies in the arms of the patron. 672 00:47:29,639 --> 00:47:31,641 And Alvin's saying, 673 00:47:31,683 --> 00:47:33,768 "Thank you ladies and gentlemen." 674 00:47:33,810 --> 00:47:36,020 There was a deadly silence. 675 00:47:36,980 --> 00:47:38,356 - Thank you. 676 00:47:38,398 --> 00:47:40,483 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. 677 00:47:41,860 --> 00:47:43,444 Thank you. 678 00:47:43,486 --> 00:47:46,531 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. 679 00:47:49,075 --> 00:47:50,952 Thank you. 680 00:47:50,994 --> 00:47:55,832 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. 681 00:47:55,874 --> 00:47:58,459 Thank you. 682 00:47:58,501 --> 00:48:03,506 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. 683 00:48:03,548 --> 00:48:04,507 Thank you. 684 00:48:06,009 --> 00:48:09,470 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. 685 00:48:13,349 --> 00:48:15,727 - Fuck it, yeah. 686 00:48:15,768 --> 00:48:17,562 You came here to be entertained. 687 00:48:22,567 --> 00:48:24,861 But I have to tell my truth. 688 00:48:24,903 --> 00:48:30,658 ♪♪ 689 00:48:30,700 --> 00:48:33,077 (indistinct whispering) 690 00:48:33,119 --> 00:48:43,118 ♪♪ 691 00:48:43,171 --> 00:49:03,066 ♪♪ 692 00:49:03,149 --> 00:49:23,116 ♪♪ 693 00:49:23,211 --> 00:49:43,106 ♪♪ 694 00:49:43,189 --> 00:49:49,654 ♪♪ 695 00:49:49,696 --> 00:49:51,739 - To me, it's not back then. 696 00:49:53,241 --> 00:49:55,785 Everything I'm talking about is actually happening today. 697 00:49:55,827 --> 00:50:04,669 ♪♪ 698 00:50:04,711 --> 00:50:08,172 I'm still feeling the same way as anyone would feel 699 00:50:08,214 --> 00:50:10,967 if you felt like you were unwanted as a culture. 700 00:50:15,471 --> 00:50:18,182 (dramatic music) 701 00:50:18,224 --> 00:50:28,192 ♪♪ 702 00:50:51,466 --> 00:50:53,885 (soft music) 703 00:51:07,899 --> 00:51:10,234 (soft music) 704 00:51:29,003 --> 00:51:30,588 - [Interviewer] Did mama have something to do with you 705 00:51:30,630 --> 00:51:32,340 going into dance or did she support this? 706 00:51:32,381 --> 00:51:33,716 - [Alvin] When the the dance bug bit me 707 00:51:33,758 --> 00:51:35,927 she said, "You go and do whatever you wanted to do." 708 00:51:35,968 --> 00:51:37,512 - [Interviewer] You enjoy seeing his company... 709 00:51:37,553 --> 00:51:40,723 - Oh boy he's the biggest thrill of my life. 710 00:51:40,765 --> 00:51:42,892 And he still has farther to go. 711 00:51:42,934 --> 00:51:44,894 So that's why he's just keeping on. 712 00:51:46,521 --> 00:51:48,856 (soft music) 713 00:51:48,898 --> 00:51:57,156 ♪♪ 714 00:51:57,198 --> 00:51:59,992 Mrs. Cooper, working somebody's house cleaning, 715 00:52:01,911 --> 00:52:03,204 and decide to go to Los Angeles 716 00:52:03,246 --> 00:52:05,706 to make life for him. 717 00:52:05,748 --> 00:52:08,709 You know that Alvin knows that. 718 00:52:08,751 --> 00:52:11,170 (soft music) 719 00:52:19,679 --> 00:52:23,683 ♪ Been on a train ♪ 720 00:52:23,724 --> 00:52:26,352 - The black women who would encourage you, 721 00:52:26,394 --> 00:52:29,272 ♪ The whistle blows ♪ 722 00:52:29,313 --> 00:52:30,773 who would be there always. 723 00:52:30,815 --> 00:52:34,193 ♪ on a train north ♪ 724 00:52:34,235 --> 00:52:37,405 Who were so supportive that you could not fail. 725 00:52:37,446 --> 00:52:41,450 ♪ The whistle blows ♪ 726 00:52:43,452 --> 00:52:46,622 ♪ I saw a man ♪ 727 00:52:48,082 --> 00:52:51,085 ♪ I saw a man ♪ 728 00:52:51,127 --> 00:52:53,087 - I get these images. 729 00:52:55,089 --> 00:52:58,843 ♪ he died slow ♪ 730 00:52:58,885 --> 00:53:01,387 ♪♪ 731 00:53:01,429 --> 00:53:05,641 He would say things like you're scrubbing floors, 732 00:53:07,101 --> 00:53:10,396 you're tending a baby, you're a queen. 733 00:53:12,148 --> 00:53:17,445 ♪ and I'm never gonna be the same ♪ 734 00:53:22,074 --> 00:53:24,744 - I had no inclination that this was dedicated 735 00:53:24,785 --> 00:53:27,747 to all black women, especially our mothers. 736 00:53:27,788 --> 00:53:30,458 That that this was a birthday gift to his mom. 737 00:53:34,629 --> 00:53:38,174 But you could hear the importance in the music. 738 00:53:39,884 --> 00:53:43,804 ♪ Gonna soothe ♪ 739 00:53:45,181 --> 00:53:49,227 ♪ my pain ♪ 740 00:53:50,019 --> 00:53:51,646 - The angst in her voice. 741 00:53:51,687 --> 00:53:56,651 ♪ No no ♪ 742 00:53:58,152 --> 00:54:03,574 ♪ Damn you mister and I dragged him out the door ♪ 743 00:54:04,283 --> 00:54:06,994 ♪ No no ♪ 744 00:54:07,036 --> 00:54:10,456 ♪ Damn you mister and I dragged him out the door ♪ 745 00:54:10,498 --> 00:54:14,168 And you just survive inside of what he's giving you 746 00:54:14,210 --> 00:54:16,504 and what the music is telling you. 747 00:54:16,545 --> 00:54:18,506 You know, you live in those moments. 748 00:54:23,928 --> 00:54:28,474 ♪ I suspect there's a dream going on ♪ 749 00:54:28,516 --> 00:54:33,229 ♪ in a moment or two ♪ 750 00:54:33,271 --> 00:54:36,691 ♪ I still hear his words he says ♪ 751 00:54:36,732 --> 00:54:40,569 - Identity was a strong message. 752 00:54:42,571 --> 00:54:47,535 Being able to say through the choreography, 753 00:54:47,868 --> 00:54:52,873 "I am", was a very very 754 00:54:52,915 --> 00:54:55,376 important theme, 755 00:54:55,418 --> 00:54:57,628 that ran through the dances. 756 00:54:59,630 --> 00:55:01,382 "I am." 757 00:55:03,968 --> 00:55:07,513 Stand in your own being no matter what. 758 00:55:08,723 --> 00:55:10,850 It's very important to have that 759 00:55:10,891 --> 00:55:15,313 because it transcends dance, 760 00:55:15,354 --> 00:55:20,318 and it opens the person to a new realization 761 00:55:20,359 --> 00:55:25,031 or consciousness of who they are 762 00:55:25,072 --> 00:55:29,243 and how to be who they are. 763 00:55:29,285 --> 00:55:31,829 (upbeat music) 764 00:55:31,871 --> 00:55:44,258 ♪♪ 765 00:55:44,342 --> 00:55:47,553 ♪ I wanna go where the northwind blows ♪ 766 00:55:47,595 --> 00:55:51,724 ♪ Wind Blows, wind blows ♪ 767 00:55:51,766 --> 00:55:55,394 ♪ I wanna know what the falcon knows yeah ♪ 768 00:55:55,436 --> 00:56:00,274 ♪ Falcon knows, falcon knows ♪ 769 00:56:00,316 --> 00:56:01,525 - That whole last section. 770 00:56:01,567 --> 00:56:03,194 I didn't know how I did it. 771 00:56:04,570 --> 00:56:06,447 I couldn't feel it from here down. 772 00:56:06,489 --> 00:56:08,199 I mean, it was like, okay 773 00:56:08,240 --> 00:56:10,618 I know there's something there holding me up, 774 00:56:10,659 --> 00:56:12,661 and just plow on through it. 775 00:56:13,579 --> 00:56:18,125 (upbeat music) 776 00:56:18,167 --> 00:56:22,046 ♪ I don't want no store bought bed ♪ 777 00:56:22,088 --> 00:56:24,673 ♪ I want the clouds over my head ♪ 778 00:56:24,715 --> 00:56:25,925 ♪ Be free ♪ 779 00:56:25,966 --> 00:56:28,469 ♪ Ain't no time to be afraid ♪ 780 00:56:28,511 --> 00:56:33,057 ♪ Yeah, mother save your child ♪ 781 00:56:33,099 --> 00:56:34,809 - And when it comes to that last step, 782 00:56:34,850 --> 00:56:37,728 you dig down in there like you have never dug it before. 783 00:56:37,770 --> 00:56:41,732 ♪ In the sky, in the sky ♪ 784 00:56:47,905 --> 00:56:51,200 ♪ I want those clouds over my head ♪ 785 00:56:51,242 --> 00:56:54,745 ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ 786 00:56:54,787 --> 00:56:57,456 ♪ I don't want no store bought bed ♪ 787 00:56:57,498 --> 00:56:58,874 ♪ Yeah ♪ 788 00:56:58,916 --> 00:57:01,794 ♪ No more bed ♪ ♪ No more bed ♪ 789 00:57:01,836 --> 00:57:06,382 No matter what others may think of you, 790 00:57:09,552 --> 00:57:10,761 this is who you are. 791 00:57:14,265 --> 00:57:18,853 How important is that to you to be able to say 792 00:57:18,894 --> 00:57:23,023 through your movement, through your being, I am. 793 00:57:26,986 --> 00:57:29,155 (applause) 794 00:57:29,196 --> 00:57:30,489 Thunderous applause. 795 00:57:31,532 --> 00:57:33,576 Alvin stood right next to me. 796 00:57:35,035 --> 00:57:36,412 The curtain had been down 797 00:57:36,454 --> 00:57:38,205 for a little bit and people were still applauding. 798 00:57:39,623 --> 00:57:41,417 I'm like dripping in sweat. 799 00:57:42,626 --> 00:57:46,755 I'm going like, whoa got through that one. 800 00:57:46,797 --> 00:57:49,925 And he says to me, "Now what?" 801 00:57:51,218 --> 00:57:53,471 Like what is he going to do next? 802 00:57:55,931 --> 00:57:57,349 What next? 803 00:57:57,391 --> 00:57:59,727 (soft music) 804 00:57:59,768 --> 00:58:09,737 ♪♪ 805 00:58:24,293 --> 00:58:27,213 - You have the anxiety of creating, 806 00:58:27,254 --> 00:58:32,760 you have the euphoria, of a creation being successful. 807 00:58:32,801 --> 00:58:35,012 (soft music) 808 00:58:36,972 --> 00:58:41,227 Alvin, I think he took on too much. 809 00:58:41,268 --> 00:58:43,979 - [Reporter] Some say the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 810 00:58:44,021 --> 00:58:46,982 is the most innovative dance company in the world. 811 00:58:47,024 --> 00:58:49,735 Its popularity and dazzling performances 812 00:58:49,777 --> 00:58:52,488 have been experienced by 10 million people, 813 00:58:52,530 --> 00:58:56,992 43 States, 44 countries on six continents. 814 00:58:57,034 --> 00:58:59,662 My guest is the world renowned choreographer 815 00:58:59,703 --> 00:59:01,664 and artistic director, Alvin Ailey. 816 00:59:01,705 --> 00:59:02,665 Good to have you here. 817 00:59:02,706 --> 00:59:04,375 Thank you, it's nice to be here. 818 00:59:04,416 --> 00:59:06,752 (Alvin speaking French} 819 00:59:06,794 --> 00:59:08,837 - [Reporter] Alvin Ailey, director of the 820 00:59:08,879 --> 00:59:11,924 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater who's just returned 821 00:59:11,966 --> 00:59:14,552 from a very successful tour in the Soviet Union. 822 00:59:14,593 --> 00:59:18,013 - We are adding Mr. Aileys piece at... 823 00:59:18,055 --> 00:59:21,308 - Every fall, every spring time, 824 00:59:21,350 --> 00:59:24,562 every season, there you are 825 00:59:24,603 --> 00:59:28,023 at the mill, grinding it out. 826 00:59:28,065 --> 00:59:30,442 (soft music) 827 00:59:34,405 --> 00:59:36,615 - The problem is that if you're a black 828 00:59:36,657 --> 00:59:39,451 anything in this country we wanna put you into a bag. 829 00:59:40,911 --> 00:59:43,205 People sometimes say well you know, why is he doing that? 830 00:59:43,247 --> 00:59:46,292 No why can't he stick to the blues to the spirituals? 831 00:59:46,333 --> 00:59:48,168 I'm also a 20th century American 832 00:59:48,210 --> 00:59:50,379 and I respond to Bach and Ellington, 833 00:59:50,421 --> 00:59:52,506 Denswell Britain, and Simon Barber. 834 00:59:52,548 --> 00:59:53,507 And why shouldn't I? 835 00:59:56,427 --> 00:59:59,888 So I don't like to be pinned down as a choreographer. 836 00:59:59,930 --> 01:00:02,349 (soft music) 837 01:00:07,896 --> 01:00:12,860 - Oftentimes isolated, black creators are used. 838 01:00:13,902 --> 01:00:15,696 Everybody used him. 839 01:00:15,738 --> 01:00:18,907 As see, this is the progress we're making. 840 01:00:20,534 --> 01:00:23,162 See, we're not racist. 841 01:00:23,203 --> 01:00:24,496 We have Alvin Ailey. 842 01:00:25,873 --> 01:00:28,167 (soft music) 843 01:00:34,256 --> 01:00:35,466 - When you were making "Revelations" 844 01:00:35,507 --> 01:00:37,259 did you know that you'd be doing it forever? 845 01:00:37,301 --> 01:00:39,219 - (laughing) No. 846 01:00:39,261 --> 01:00:40,346 - [Harry] Does it bother you? 847 01:00:40,387 --> 01:00:42,097 - (laughing) In a way it does. 848 01:00:42,139 --> 01:00:44,516 Isn't that strange? Maybe I can't accept success because, 849 01:00:44,558 --> 01:00:46,018 every time I see, I see "Revelations" now, 850 01:00:46,060 --> 01:00:48,687 after all these years, man since 1960, 851 01:00:48,729 --> 01:00:50,439 I mean, I saw it in Atlanta the other night 852 01:00:50,481 --> 01:00:52,650 and everybody had come to see "Revelations" 853 01:00:52,691 --> 01:00:53,984 and it still worked. 854 01:00:55,069 --> 01:00:58,030 (light music) 855 01:00:58,072 --> 01:01:01,158 - They wanted something that they could feel uplifted by. 856 01:01:03,327 --> 01:01:07,289 What about the troubled artist who was oftentimes turned in 857 01:01:07,331 --> 01:01:12,294 and barbed, who is confused and looking for form. 858 01:01:14,004 --> 01:01:15,464 Looking for form. 859 01:01:15,506 --> 01:01:17,883 (soft music) 860 01:01:36,694 --> 01:01:38,445 - [Reporter] Let's go to the ballet. 861 01:01:41,281 --> 01:01:44,034 - [Alvin] You have this creature, this wounded animal. 862 01:01:44,076 --> 01:01:46,328 (soft music) 863 01:01:46,370 --> 01:01:47,746 She's angry at herself. 864 01:01:47,788 --> 01:01:50,165 She's angry at probably at her creative forces. 865 01:01:50,207 --> 01:01:52,084 She's angry at, like all creative artists, 866 01:01:52,126 --> 01:01:54,503 at not doing exactly with herself what she wanted to do. 867 01:01:54,545 --> 01:01:56,839 She's angry at the society around her. 868 01:01:56,880 --> 01:01:59,842 She's angry at the world that that allowed this thing 869 01:01:59,883 --> 01:02:01,468 to happen to her, whatever it is she's allowed. 870 01:02:01,510 --> 01:02:03,387 She's angry at the weakness in herself. 871 01:02:04,346 --> 01:02:06,056 (soft music) 872 01:02:06,098 --> 01:02:09,727 - This was a very vulnerable thing to witness 873 01:02:11,603 --> 01:02:14,982 but I saw him really trying to go in search of, 874 01:02:15,023 --> 01:02:18,610 I believe, what had probably made him a choreographer. 875 01:02:18,652 --> 01:02:20,904 He wanted a poetry. 876 01:02:25,617 --> 01:02:28,787 - Creation is a very lonely place. 877 01:02:29,955 --> 01:02:33,792 Lonely in the fact that nobody can help you. 878 01:02:36,336 --> 01:02:41,300 He was possessed and he had to serve that god. 879 01:02:52,311 --> 01:02:54,521 - Alvin is very private. 880 01:02:54,563 --> 01:02:56,815 (soft music) 881 01:02:56,857 --> 01:02:58,233 I've worked with him long time 882 01:02:58,275 --> 01:03:01,987 and he invited me to his house only once. 883 01:03:03,530 --> 01:03:06,742 He wanted to open up a door for me to more close to him. 884 01:03:09,119 --> 01:03:13,415 Somehow I feel I wanted him to be up 885 01:03:13,874 --> 01:03:16,585 had to put in a pedestal? 886 01:03:16,627 --> 01:03:18,295 I mean, I wanted him to be there. 887 01:03:18,337 --> 01:03:21,006 It's not the here with me. 888 01:03:24,343 --> 01:03:27,262 - Sometimes your name becomes bigger than yourself. 889 01:03:28,806 --> 01:03:30,724 Alvin Ailey. 890 01:03:30,766 --> 01:03:34,228 Do you really know who that is or what is? 891 01:03:37,898 --> 01:03:39,858 You see a name, but I don't see a man. 892 01:03:40,984 --> 01:03:44,363 (light music) 893 01:03:46,490 --> 01:04:06,426 ♪♪ 894 01:04:06,510 --> 01:04:26,446 ♪♪ 895 01:04:26,530 --> 01:04:46,466 ♪♪ 896 01:04:46,550 --> 01:05:06,486 ♪♪ 897 01:05:06,570 --> 01:05:15,495 ♪♪ 898 01:06:05,170 --> 01:06:07,547 (soft music) 899 01:06:34,950 --> 01:06:39,371 ♪♪ 900 01:06:39,413 --> 01:06:41,832 - He was working at a feverish pitch, 901 01:06:41,873 --> 01:06:45,210 this stream of consciousness. 902 01:06:48,338 --> 01:06:51,967 He was totally immersed. 903 01:06:54,344 --> 01:07:04,312 ♪♪ 904 01:08:17,385 --> 01:08:21,181 (soft music) 905 01:08:21,223 --> 01:08:31,191 ♪♪ 906 01:08:39,074 --> 01:08:42,035 (soft music) 907 01:08:53,588 --> 01:09:03,557 ♪♪ 908 01:09:18,488 --> 01:09:20,824 (soft music) 909 01:09:40,844 --> 01:09:44,389 - He was exhausted from trying to meet 910 01:09:44,431 --> 01:09:48,018 the demands of the board, the community everything. 911 01:09:48,059 --> 01:09:50,896 Oh, do another ballet. Oh, doing this. Oh do that. 912 01:09:54,191 --> 01:09:57,235 He talked to me at times about the company 913 01:09:57,277 --> 01:10:01,072 not being the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 914 01:10:03,408 --> 01:10:06,703 it could be the American Dance Theater. 915 01:10:06,745 --> 01:10:09,497 And I remember saying to him, what are you talking about? 916 01:10:09,539 --> 01:10:10,707 Where are you going? 917 01:10:10,749 --> 01:10:13,460 (train roaring) 918 01:10:56,753 --> 01:10:59,798 - One day, my telephone rang a voice said, 919 01:10:59,839 --> 01:11:05,345 "you know, Alvin is running around, throwing things around 920 01:11:05,387 --> 01:11:08,431 and everybody has cleared out of the office." 921 01:11:12,727 --> 01:11:16,940 Alvin pushed the door open, he just looked at me. 922 01:11:19,359 --> 01:11:23,905 A look that I had never seen from him before. 923 01:11:23,947 --> 01:11:30,412 I said, "Alvin, what do you want me to do?" 924 01:11:32,247 --> 01:11:34,332 So he said, 925 01:11:34,374 --> 01:11:38,253 "all I want you to do is take care of the company." 926 01:11:38,295 --> 01:11:40,588 So, I said, 927 01:11:40,630 --> 01:11:46,803 "well, I am always going to do just that. 928 01:11:46,845 --> 01:11:49,597 You don't have to worry about that." 929 01:11:50,181 --> 01:11:52,267 Then he disappeared. 930 01:11:55,437 --> 01:11:58,106 Alvin's not well. 931 01:12:47,614 --> 01:12:52,577 (soft music) 932 01:12:57,457 --> 01:13:01,961 - I believe that there's always something one's gift, 933 01:13:02,003 --> 01:13:06,049 one's genius separates one from his colleagues, 934 01:13:06,091 --> 01:13:07,634 his community. 935 01:13:08,385 --> 01:13:10,428 I believe that he had that demon, 936 01:13:10,470 --> 01:13:14,015 that demon that says that, if I have gotten this far, 937 01:13:14,057 --> 01:13:18,103 it's because I have pulled one over on somebody 938 01:13:19,312 --> 01:13:22,440 and that any day now I'm going to be found out. 939 01:13:24,818 --> 01:13:27,654 I think it's going to something like a self-loathing 940 01:13:27,695 --> 01:13:31,491 that comes with not feeling worthy, 941 01:13:31,533 --> 01:13:32,992 even though you've proven it. 942 01:13:33,034 --> 01:13:36,287 If you look at Revelations is one the great dances 943 01:13:36,329 --> 01:13:38,206 of the 20th century. 944 01:13:38,748 --> 01:13:43,002 (soft piano music) 945 01:13:43,044 --> 01:13:46,339 Who could love him or were they loving 946 01:13:46,381 --> 01:13:48,800 what he represented. 947 01:13:48,842 --> 01:13:52,137 His gift, his fame what have you. 948 01:13:52,178 --> 01:13:57,142 (soft music) 949 01:14:01,896 --> 01:14:04,858 Who could love him. 950 01:14:06,443 --> 01:14:16,442 ♪♪ 951 01:14:16,494 --> 01:14:26,463 ♪♪ 952 01:15:12,634 --> 01:15:15,887 - He made a nice duet for me. 953 01:15:17,096 --> 01:15:19,474 It was so much fun. 954 01:15:19,516 --> 01:15:21,309 I think he discovered different way. 955 01:15:22,685 --> 01:15:25,980 It's not a new Alvin, but something... 956 01:15:27,565 --> 01:15:30,109 Like a winter passed, you know, took off the jacket. 957 01:15:32,737 --> 01:15:35,156 - See now if I had known about this television thing 958 01:15:35,198 --> 01:15:37,033 I would've done my hair like yours Rodney 959 01:15:37,075 --> 01:15:38,284 (laughing) 960 01:15:38,326 --> 01:15:39,452 I would have been up until five o'clock 961 01:15:39,494 --> 01:15:40,870 in the morning, twisting and turning. 962 01:15:40,912 --> 01:15:42,372 - [Rodney] I just wash it. I don't do anything. 963 01:15:42,413 --> 01:15:44,290 - You don't do anything to it? 964 01:15:44,332 --> 01:15:45,708 You did it yourself? 965 01:15:45,750 --> 01:15:46,834 - [Rodney] I don't do anything, I just don't comb it. 966 01:15:46,876 --> 01:15:48,127 - No, I mean, how did it get that way. 967 01:15:48,169 --> 01:15:49,295 - [Rodney] I just, 968 01:15:49,337 --> 01:15:50,129 - You twisted it. 969 01:15:50,171 --> 01:15:51,381 - [Rodney] No. 970 01:15:51,422 --> 01:15:54,175 - Rodney, now no, no, no, no, no. 971 01:15:54,217 --> 01:15:56,094 You're among friends. 972 01:15:56,135 --> 01:15:58,846 (organ music) 973 01:16:01,432 --> 01:16:04,227 - He wasn't letting go. And that was a good thing. 974 01:16:05,770 --> 01:16:07,522 It was a sense of renewal. 975 01:16:09,232 --> 01:16:13,820 The only direction to go is forward into the future. 976 01:16:21,369 --> 01:16:22,662 - [interviewer] What are the aims and goals 977 01:16:22,704 --> 01:16:24,205 of the American Dance Theater. 978 01:16:25,415 --> 01:16:27,584 - To provide a place of beauty and excitement, 979 01:16:27,625 --> 01:16:30,545 a place where other choreographers experiment, 980 01:16:30,587 --> 01:16:32,338 to provide a place where, 981 01:16:32,380 --> 01:16:35,216 where people can come and feel like they can add themselves 982 01:16:35,258 --> 01:16:38,428 and then reap benefits of what they've put in. 983 01:16:40,096 --> 01:16:43,349 I want it to be easier than it was for me. 984 01:16:49,439 --> 01:16:52,442 - I had been invited to come and make a work 985 01:16:52,483 --> 01:16:54,110 for the Ailey Company. 986 01:16:56,112 --> 01:16:59,949 Around this time, Arnie Zane, my companion and I, 987 01:16:59,991 --> 01:17:02,744 were already on the cover of Dance Magazine. 988 01:17:02,785 --> 01:17:05,413 Many people were saying we were the flavor 989 01:17:05,455 --> 01:17:08,708 of the month of the downtown Avant Garde Dance. 990 01:17:10,168 --> 01:17:14,088 We were doing something that was oftentimes improvisational. 991 01:17:14,130 --> 01:17:17,175 And I think he wanted some of that. 992 01:17:17,800 --> 01:17:19,761 More than anything. I think he wanted to stay 993 01:17:19,802 --> 01:17:22,597 in touch with new developments in the field. 994 01:17:22,639 --> 01:17:24,932 And I'm proud to say that he took me seriously 995 01:17:24,974 --> 01:17:26,017 in that regard. 996 01:17:29,479 --> 01:17:32,857 I remember him coming in and seeing the rough housing, 997 01:17:32,899 --> 01:17:37,445 gestural language of Fever Swamp and him saying to me 998 01:17:37,487 --> 01:17:39,947 something that moves me very much right now. 999 01:17:39,989 --> 01:17:42,116 He said, "don't hurt my boys Bill, 1000 01:17:43,076 --> 01:17:45,203 don't hurt my boys." 1001 01:17:46,663 --> 01:17:49,248 When he said, boys it meant that he loved them. 1002 01:17:50,500 --> 01:17:53,961 He loved them because he was no longer lonely. 1003 01:17:54,003 --> 01:17:57,256 And he had actually been given the wherewithal to open 1004 01:17:57,298 --> 01:18:01,969 up this field to people like himself. 1005 01:18:02,345 --> 01:18:03,554 My boys. 1006 01:18:03,596 --> 01:18:07,975 - All right so, I said, "do you hear Michael?" 1007 01:18:08,017 --> 01:18:11,312 You're here. You're facing this way. 1008 01:18:11,354 --> 01:18:14,982 Jackie is bringing you here. Okay. 1009 01:18:15,024 --> 01:18:18,486 So here's the deal. You guys are blades of grass. 1010 01:18:18,528 --> 01:18:20,738 You're black folk Who've been murdered. 1011 01:18:20,780 --> 01:18:22,448 You become part of the soil. 1012 01:18:22,490 --> 01:18:25,034 And then the gatherer is come and Step over you. 1013 01:18:25,076 --> 01:18:27,537 And they start gathering the souls, right? 1014 01:18:27,578 --> 01:18:29,163 Putting, gathering them back 1015 01:18:29,205 --> 01:18:32,458 so they can regenerate, got me? 1016 01:18:32,500 --> 01:18:35,169 So that's, what's happened. So, so this is slow. 1017 01:18:36,254 --> 01:18:38,631 (Soft music) Right, right. 1018 01:18:40,091 --> 01:18:44,762 - Resurrection, every time a dancer walks in. 1019 01:18:46,180 --> 01:18:49,183 There's another piece of him being resurrected. 1020 01:18:52,395 --> 01:18:56,357 Mr. Ailey' was just watching this whole cycle happen, 1021 01:18:56,399 --> 01:18:58,943 and helping to guide helping to push through. 1022 01:18:58,985 --> 01:19:01,446 (soft music) 1023 01:19:29,932 --> 01:19:34,896 - I was walking across 57th street and 1024 01:19:34,937 --> 01:19:36,731 I saw Alvin. 1025 01:19:36,773 --> 01:19:41,110 I said, "hi, Alvin, how's everything." 1026 01:19:41,152 --> 01:19:42,904 He said, "it's all right. It's all right." 1027 01:19:42,945 --> 01:19:46,532 But he didn't speak about anything. It was like that. 1028 01:19:46,574 --> 01:19:49,535 So I said, "well, okay. 1029 01:19:49,577 --> 01:19:53,206 I hope to see you may I'll come to the season. " Like that. 1030 01:19:56,083 --> 01:19:59,754 He just looked thinner to me and a little drawn. 1031 01:19:59,796 --> 01:20:04,550 He wasn't reacting in a way that I was used to. 1032 01:20:08,721 --> 01:20:12,475 - People's appearances were changing. 1033 01:20:12,517 --> 01:20:17,480 They were getting thinner and, and um, 1034 01:20:20,233 --> 01:20:23,736 and they were dying around you. 1035 01:20:23,778 --> 01:20:27,448 And I guess all you could hope for 1036 01:20:27,490 --> 01:20:30,743 that it wasn't you. 1037 01:20:33,704 --> 01:20:38,668 And you prayed that it wasn't anybody close to you. 1038 01:20:43,714 --> 01:20:47,677 (soft music) 1039 01:20:48,553 --> 01:20:52,598 - Alvin wanted me to meet him at this restaurant. 1040 01:20:53,599 --> 01:20:56,394 We were picking over stuff, 1041 01:20:56,435 --> 01:20:58,688 you know, this food that I wasn't eating, 1042 01:20:58,729 --> 01:21:00,523 that he wasn't eating. 1043 01:21:00,565 --> 01:21:02,358 Both of us, knew what we were there for, 1044 01:21:06,237 --> 01:21:08,114 but he had to declare it anyway. 1045 01:21:09,240 --> 01:21:11,951 He said, "would you take over the company?" 1046 01:21:11,993 --> 01:21:15,955 (soft music) 1047 01:21:21,085 --> 01:21:24,797 I had been told ahead of time that he was very ill. 1048 01:21:28,342 --> 01:21:30,177 At that time people were retreating 1049 01:21:30,219 --> 01:21:35,057 from saying anything about AIDS related illnesses. 1050 01:21:40,688 --> 01:21:43,482 - There were probably people he would imagine, 1051 01:21:43,524 --> 01:21:45,526 they would react disfavorably 1052 01:21:45,568 --> 01:21:49,655 to having quote this guilty disease. 1053 01:21:50,865 --> 01:21:53,242 This disease is in some people's mind 1054 01:21:54,702 --> 01:21:56,913 you get what you deserve. 1055 01:21:56,954 --> 01:21:58,915 And we have loved you all these years 1056 01:21:58,956 --> 01:22:02,209 and giving you this platform to go out and do that dancing 1057 01:22:02,251 --> 01:22:05,796 and then, then look at your dirty life and all this, 1058 01:22:05,838 --> 01:22:08,049 as we used to hear when I was a child 1059 01:22:08,090 --> 01:22:11,177 what's done in the dark will come to the light. 1060 01:22:11,218 --> 01:22:13,346 And I purposely taking on the voice 1061 01:22:13,387 --> 01:22:16,682 of a Southern Baptist because I'm sure, 1062 01:22:16,724 --> 01:22:19,560 be it that his mother, be that many people around him. 1063 01:22:19,602 --> 01:22:23,439 There was this feeling that, as I say 1064 01:22:23,481 --> 01:22:26,275 men are men on the early stage and women are women 1065 01:22:26,317 --> 01:22:29,779 on the early stage and they are exemplary 1066 01:22:29,820 --> 01:22:33,699 and they are the survivors of, of racism and slavery. 1067 01:22:33,741 --> 01:22:35,743 And they are beautiful and they are strong 1068 01:22:35,785 --> 01:22:38,412 and they will live forever and leap higher and higher. 1069 01:22:38,454 --> 01:22:40,915 Are you telling me that they have sex 1070 01:22:40,957 --> 01:22:43,501 and they have sex that could kill them. 1071 01:22:44,710 --> 01:22:47,588 You telling me Mr. Ailey himself? 1072 01:22:47,630 --> 01:22:50,257 Oh, that's too much. That's too much. 1073 01:22:50,299 --> 01:22:52,802 We have to edit that out of the history. 1074 01:22:52,843 --> 01:22:57,807 And he participated in the editing of it. 1075 01:22:58,265 --> 01:22:59,809 He was alone. 1076 01:22:59,850 --> 01:23:04,063 What community of gay people was he with that could say, 1077 01:23:04,105 --> 01:23:06,899 "Alvin then this is happening to us." 1078 01:23:06,941 --> 01:23:09,318 (soft music) 1079 01:23:11,654 --> 01:23:15,032 - When he got ill, they put a couch in the studio. 1080 01:23:17,076 --> 01:23:18,995 He wasn't really working with us anymore. 1081 01:23:19,036 --> 01:23:21,706 He couldn't, but he wanted to be around us. 1082 01:23:21,747 --> 01:23:24,458 So as opposed to lay at home, he would just lay 1083 01:23:24,500 --> 01:23:26,877 in the couch or just kind of lounge around them, 1084 01:23:26,919 --> 01:23:28,713 Just be with us. 1085 01:23:28,754 --> 01:23:32,633 (soft music) 1086 01:23:32,675 --> 01:23:35,469 There's a denial that you want to have about your friend. 1087 01:23:36,679 --> 01:23:39,348 You always want to think that could be a miracle. 1088 01:23:39,390 --> 01:23:42,518 Cause miracles do happen. 1089 01:23:42,560 --> 01:23:44,854 Some people do get better. 1090 01:23:44,895 --> 01:23:47,898 People do heal. 1091 01:23:47,940 --> 01:23:50,026 So it is possible. 1092 01:23:51,819 --> 01:23:54,613 It could happen, he could pull through this, 1093 01:23:54,655 --> 01:23:56,032 miracles do happen. 1094 01:23:58,868 --> 01:24:00,327 - Hey Alvin, what's up. Now listening here. 1095 01:24:00,369 --> 01:24:01,662 You got to hurry up and get better. 1096 01:24:01,704 --> 01:24:03,748 I'm waiting on you because you know, 1097 01:24:03,789 --> 01:24:06,500 I'm trying to do this but I need to be inspired. 1098 01:24:06,542 --> 01:24:08,586 I need your inspiration brother 1099 01:24:08,627 --> 01:24:09,920 you got to get out of here. 1100 01:24:09,962 --> 01:24:11,422 You understand what I'm saying? 1101 01:24:11,464 --> 01:24:16,177 - Hi, we miss you hope you're feeling better (smooching) 1102 01:24:17,511 --> 01:24:18,971 - we want you to get better so you can come back 1103 01:24:19,013 --> 01:24:20,806 and reprimand us again. 1104 01:24:20,848 --> 01:24:23,225 (soft music) 1105 01:24:30,816 --> 01:24:33,027 (laughing) 1106 01:24:44,747 --> 01:24:51,378 - I remember we were opening on December the third, I think. 1107 01:24:51,420 --> 01:24:55,716 And Alvin died on the first. 1108 01:24:55,758 --> 01:25:00,221 Oh God, I wish he'd been able to come to this opening 1109 01:25:00,262 --> 01:25:03,432 but we put on... 1110 01:25:06,018 --> 01:25:09,980 (groaning and sighing) 1111 01:25:10,022 --> 01:25:12,441 But I called George Faison. 1112 01:25:12,483 --> 01:25:16,153 I said, George (groaning) 1113 01:25:20,741 --> 01:25:22,076 that moved me a great deal. 1114 01:25:22,118 --> 01:25:24,662 I said, we've got to celebrate Alvin. 1115 01:25:25,830 --> 01:25:29,208 And he put together a wonderful performance. 1116 01:25:30,751 --> 01:25:35,714 And at the end, after Revelations and bows 1117 01:25:36,507 --> 01:25:42,304 all of a sudden I had let down a big picture of Alvin 1118 01:25:42,346 --> 01:25:44,473 and there's absolute quiet in the theater. 1119 01:25:44,515 --> 01:25:49,478 The entire theater rose at once 1120 01:25:49,979 --> 01:25:54,400 and just quietly stood there. 1121 01:25:54,441 --> 01:26:00,573 And the dancers had been given flowers and they all turned 1122 01:26:00,614 --> 01:26:04,410 and put them in front of the Alvin's picture. 1123 01:26:06,704 --> 01:26:08,497 And we brought the curtain down. 1124 01:26:12,251 --> 01:26:15,212 With the performance the next night, we kept going. 1125 01:26:16,755 --> 01:26:21,719 (soft music) 1126 01:26:23,512 --> 01:26:34,440 ♪♪ 1127 01:26:34,523 --> 01:26:54,490 ♪♪ 1128 01:26:54,585 --> 01:27:14,480 ♪♪ 1129 01:27:14,563 --> 01:27:21,153 ♪♪ 1130 01:27:21,195 --> 01:27:22,696 - Mr Ailey? 1131 01:27:27,743 --> 01:27:30,120 Mr Ailey! 1132 01:27:37,127 --> 01:27:40,506 - You see in films that people do (exhaling) 1133 01:27:40,547 --> 01:27:42,800 and there's this dramatic death rattle. 1134 01:27:42,841 --> 01:27:45,386 And goes like (exhaling) like this. 1135 01:27:45,427 --> 01:27:49,807 Alvin breathed in and never breathed out. 1136 01:27:51,433 --> 01:27:53,602 That was it. 1137 01:27:53,644 --> 01:27:56,021 We're his breath out. 1138 01:27:56,063 --> 01:27:57,606 We are his breath out. 1139 01:27:57,648 --> 01:27:59,358 We are. 1140 01:27:59,400 --> 01:28:02,027 Yeah, so that's what, we're floating on. 1141 01:28:02,069 --> 01:28:04,196 That what we're living on, the (exhaling) 1142 01:28:04,238 --> 01:28:09,702 ♪ Alive, alive I know he is ♪ 1143 01:28:09,743 --> 01:28:12,288 (upbeat music) 1144 01:28:13,539 --> 01:28:18,502 ♪ Alive, oh yeah ♪ 1145 01:28:19,837 --> 01:28:22,214 ♪ He is, he is risen ♪ 1146 01:28:22,256 --> 01:28:24,800 (upbeat music) 1147 01:28:24,842 --> 01:28:34,810 ♪♪ 1148 01:28:39,606 --> 01:28:43,986 ♪ He's alive, alive alive alive alive ♪ 1149 01:28:50,200 --> 01:28:57,583 ♪ Alive alive alive alive ♪ 1150 01:28:58,959 --> 01:29:01,503 (upbeat music) 1151 01:29:04,256 --> 01:29:07,634 ♪ I am free, I am free, free indeed, oh free indeed ♪ 1152 01:29:07,676 --> 01:29:11,680 ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ 1153 01:29:11,722 --> 01:29:15,476 ♪ It's a new life for me here ♪ 1154 01:29:15,517 --> 01:29:18,729 ♪ It's new life for me here ♪ 1155 01:29:18,771 --> 01:29:23,025 ♪ It's a new dawn it's a new day ♪ 1156 01:29:23,067 --> 01:29:27,529 ♪ It's a new life for me here, it's a new dawn ♪ 1157 01:29:27,571 --> 01:29:32,076 ♪ It's a new day it's a new life for me ♪ 1158 01:29:33,243 --> 01:29:36,872 ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪ 1159 01:29:40,542 --> 01:29:50,511 ♪♪