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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater collection, 1910-2024

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BOX 218-300 MAPCASE-FOLDER 2, 3, 6, 21, 23, 26 Creative Output and Process, 1910-1988 and undated
This series encompasses a variety of materials by creators such as choreographers, composers, costume designers, or lighting designers for works performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater or companies for whom Alvin Ailey choreographed. A notable portion of this series documents Alvin Ailey's creative process that extended beyond choreography to include writing and visual arts.
Organized as eight subseries.
Choreographic Works, 1927-1988 and undated
Materials that document the creation of a work and its subsequent performances. These may include creative notes, casting, correspondence, rehearsal schedules, or staging such as costumes, costume designs, set designs, lighting plots, or music. Type and amount of documentation differs significantly from work to work. The dances extend beyond Ailey's works; he championed many other choreographers to give them exposure and to complement AAADT's repertory. Works were primarily (but not exclusively) choreographed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater or Ailey II. The bulk of costume designs are from Feast of Ashes for the Joffrey Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet's production of Alvin Ailey's Precipice. This subseries also contains costume designs likely illustrated by Alvin Ailey for unidentified or unrealized dances. Costumes from and a parasol used in Revelations gifted by Judith Jamison are included in this subseries.
Much of the music in this subseries was composed for large-scale productions. These include photocopied and printed scores for projects such as Mary Lou's Mass and The River, a symphonic suite by Duke Ellington commissioned by the American Ballet Theater. The Magic of Katherine Dunham scores contain annotations by Tania León, who conducted the premiere. This subseries also contains music that was not known to be used for dances. Ailey was known to carry this music in a brown accordion folder, also included in this subseries.
Costumes and props may only be served with the approval of the Heads of Acquisitions and Processing and Reader Services.
Arranged alphabetically by title of dance.
According to Eve
Choreography by John Butler
BOX-FOLDER 218/1 Stage manager's notes (William Burd), circa 1972-1975
After Eden
Choreography by John Butler
BOX-FOLDER 218/2 Correspondence, 1974-1975
BOX-FOLDER 227/1-4 Music by Lee Hoiby, undated
Ailey Celebrates Ellington
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/3-5 Casting, correspondence, orchestra information, program information, contracts, 1973-1976
BOX-FOLDER 208/3 Advertising paste-ups, circa 1974
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death
Book, words, and music by Melvin van Peebles
BOX-FOLDER 297/1-2 Costume designs by Bernard Johnson for Ethel Barrymore Theatre Premiere, 1971
Alvin Ailey at the Met
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/6 Contracts, correspondence, expenses, schedules, 1984
Ariette Oubilee
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/7 Ailey's notes, undated
Been Here and Gone
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/8 Ailey's notes and sketches, music cue sheets, undated
The Beloved
Choreography by Lester Horton
BOX-FOLDER 288/15 Ailey's costuming notes, undated
Black, Brown, and Beige
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/9 Ailey's notes, correspondence, Ellington liner notes, program information, 1976
Blood Memories
Choreography by Donald McKayle
BOX-FOLDER 218/10 Cast lists, outline, 1976 and undated
BOX-FOLDER 227/5-6 Music by Howard Roberts, undated
Blues Suite
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/11 Ailey's notes, program information, 1961 and undated
BOX-FOLDER 288/15 Ailey's costuming notes, undated
BOX-FOLDER 256/1 Costume design by Ves Harper, 1960
BOX 282 Red dress, undated
BOX 283 Orange dress, undated
BOX 284 Men's vest and pants, undated
BOX 295 Striped trousers (Michihiko Oka?), undated
Canticle of the Elements
Choreography by Janet Collins
BOX-FOLDER 218/12 Program information, undated
Caravan
Choreography by Louis Falco
BOX-FOLDER 218/13 Program information, undated
BOX-FOLDER 227/7 to 229/5, 306/3 Music by Michael Kamen, undated
Carmina Burana
Choreography by Donald McKayle
BOX-FOLDER 218/14 Casting, costuming notes, 1973-1974
BOX-FOLDER 229/6-7 Music by Carl Orff, undated
Choral Dances
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/15 Ailey's notes, program information, undated
BOX-FOLDER 230/1 Music by Benjamin Britten, undated
Choros
Choreography by Katherine Dunham
BOX-FOLDER 218/16 Program information, 1974
Concerto in F
Choreography by Billy Wilson
BOX-FOLDER 218/17 Contract, 1984
BOX-FOLDER 230/2-4 Music by George Gershwin, 1927 and 1942
Congo Tango Palace
Choreography by Talley Beatty
BOX-FOLDER 288/15 Ailey's costuming notes, undated
BOX-FOLDER 218/18 Correspondence, 1979
Congolese Wedding
see also The Wedding
Choreography by Pearl Primus
BOX-FOLDER 218/19 Costume information, 1974
Creation of the World
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/20 Ailey's notes, undated
Dance for Six
Choreography by Joyce Trisler
BOX-FOLDER 230/5-8 Music by Antonio Vivaldi, undated
Diversions
Choreography by Kenneth Macmillan for Royal Opera House Ballet
BOX-FOLDER 297/5 Costume design by Philip Prowse, 1961
Facets, 1976
Choreography by John Butler
BOX-FOLDER 218/21 Program information, 1976
Fanga
Choreography by Pearl Primus
BOX-FOLDER 218/19 Costume information, musician requests, 1974
BOX-FOLDER 218/22 Stage manager's notes (William Burd), circa 1974
Feast of Ashes
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 218/23 to 219/1 Ailey's notes
BOX-FOLDER 219/2 Correspondence, program information, photocopy of Ailey's casting notes, 1971-1975 and undated
BOX-FOLDER 219/3 Lighting notes by Thomas Skelton, circa 1972-1975
BOX-FOLDER 219/4 Stage manager's notes (William Burd), circa 1972-1976
BOX-FOLDER 219/2 Deutsche Oper Berlin production, 1972
BOX-FOLDER 219/5 Grand Theatré du Genéve production, 1973
BOX-FOLDER 219/6, 256/2 Joffrey Ballet costume design sketches by Jac Venza, 1971-1976
BOX-FOLDER 219/7 Maryland Ballet production, 1976-1977
BOX-FOLDER 230/9 Music by Carlos Surinach, undated
The First World Festival of Negro Arts
BOX-FOLDER 219/8 Committee charge, memo, 1965-1966
Flowers
Choreography by Alvin Ailey
BOX-FOLDER 219/9 Ailey's notes, undated
BOX-FOLDER 219/10 Ballet Teatro de San Juna Puerto Rico correspondence, 1979
BOX-FOLDER 219/10 Hamburgische Staatsoper production, 1971-1972
Fontessa and Friends
Choreography by Louis Johnson
BOX-FOLDER 281/14 Costume design sketches by Louis Johnson, undated
For 'Bird' - with Love
BOX-FOLDER 219/11 Ailey's notes, undated
MAPCASE-FOLDER 6 Prop mock-ups
Forty
Choreography by Gus Solomons, Jr.
BOX-FOLDER 230/10 to 231/1 Music by Duke Ellington; transcription by Allan Campbell and David Berger, undated
Fun and Games
BOX-FOLDER 280/17-18 Costume designs by Bernard Johnson, 1970
Note: For Dance Theatre of Harlem
Gazelle
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