Overview
Join our annual Ailey Day celebration! This full day of dance immersion at NJPAC features a variety of movement classes taught by professional artists including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater alumni, faculty and students. This memorable NJPAC tradition welcomes dancers of all skill levels and people of all abilities — take your first steps into dance performance or show off your advanced moves.
In addition to your choice of dance classes, you’re invited to a warm-up session and panel discussion with our visiting instructors. Also, our partners will host a variety of arts and wellness activities. At the end of the day we’ll raise the curtain on all of our participants with a special Show & Share. Plus, prepare to be delighted with performances by local dance companies!
For any questions, please reach out to Alessandra Izaguirre at aizaguirre@njpac.org
in partnership with:
Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs
Eastside Dance Project
GlassRoots
Newark Public Library
Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts
School of Nimbus
So-So’s Boutique
The Next Step School of Dance
Newark Museum of Art
view schedule
8:30AM Registration at the main rotunda entrance
9AM Warm-up
10AM
- Dance Classes:
- Intermediate Advanced Revelations Workshop
- Open Jazz “Old School with a Little New”
- Intermediate Horton Technique
- Open Jersey Club for All Abilities
- Open African and LaRocque Bey Dance Technique (3-9 years old)
- Engaged Partners Activities:
- Book Readings | Join the Newark Public Library for children’s book readings, including Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney.
- Visit the box office for discounted Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater tickets for May 10 & 11
11:00AM
- Panel discussion and Q&A with Alvin Ailey Alumni and instructors
- Show & Share | Show off what you’ve learned in class
- Local dance schools perform
1:30PM Last chance to buy discounted tickets!
meet the artists
Amos Machanic, Jr.
Nasha Thomas
Cedric J. Greene
Freddie Moore
Anthony ‘Solo’ Harris
Jerome Hunter
Dance classes
Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs and holy blues, Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. After a dance warm-up, participants will learn adapted choreography from Revelations. You will be inspired to join with family and friends in contagious rhythm and movement!
“Old School with a Little New” is a Fast paced and High energy basic introduction to Jazz Dance. Incorporating traditional technique, body conditioning and Stage performance elements that gives participants a chance to showcase themselves as artists and experience the Ailey Legacy.
In celebration of Ailey Day, Freddie Moore’s dance workshop will consist of the Horton Technique and choreography inspired from dances created by Alvin Ailey. Using Ailey history, each participant will explore new ways of expressing movement through the Horton Technique.
This class will explore creative expression at a level that is comfortable for those with limited movement. For individuals with developmental disabilities, Jersey Club dancing can positively impact attention span, memory, ability to follow instructions, and physical strength and coordination. Dance is a powerful therapy because of its sensorimotor integration. It highlights expressing emotions and ideas through individual movements and requires participants to control their bodies while simultaneously participating in group movement.
This 45 minute class will consist of traditional African dance movements as well as LaRocque Bey Dance techniques that were used in the 1960’s when the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and the LaRocque Bey school of dance were in their beginning stages.