As one of the most important choreographers in the history of modern dance, Alvin Ailey's life was nothing short of groundbreaking.
Raised by a single mother in Jim Crow Texas, Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, at the age of just 27, with a mission to preserve the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience. Dedicated to his company and its mission, Ailey endured years of racism and homophobia, bearing the burden of fame as an African-American artist and setting an example for future generations. He became a towering figure in the world of dance, leaving behind a prolific and meaningful legacy when his life was cut short by the AIDS epidemic. Now, some three decades after his death, his legacy lives on through hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris as he creates a new dance work inspired by Ailey's life.
Using never-before-heard audio interviews from the last year of Ailey's life, this documentary offers a rare perspective on the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey. As Harris brings Ailey's vision to a new generation, the documentary weaves present-day rehearsal processes with archival footage to showcase the enduring power of Ailey's transformative vision and expression of complete freedom through dance.
(Director), Alvin Ailey (Self), Fana Minea Tesfagiorgis (Self), Judith Jamison (Self), Bill T. Jones (Self), DJ Express (Self), Michael Francis McBride (Self), Samuel Lee Roberts (Self), George Faison (Self)