Oscar-nominee Barry Jenkins, acclaimed director of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, has announced his next project: a biopic of innovative choreographer Alvin Ailey.
Ailey grew up in Texas at the height of the Great Depression, and during a time of terrible discrimination against African-Americans. He escaped to California, and later to New York City, where the Broadway stage became his canvas.
Ailey founded the world-famous Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in 1958, from which he pioneered new techniques in dance and assembled a diverse, multi-racial troupe of dancers. Ten years later Ailey would also open his own dance academy to provide artistic training to underprivileged communities. Though he never spoke much of it publicly, Ailey identified as a gay man. He died of AIDS in 1989, aged 58.
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Jenkins will direct the new film with a script by Julian Breece. Actress/singer Alicia Keys will produce.
The film currently has no cast attached or release date set.
Ailey’s dance company still operates out of New York today. Here’s a 2016 New Yorker profile that showcases why it’s still so relevant:
PoetDaddy
I can hardly wait! I met Ailey a couple of times in the ’60s and ’70s. And, as I always like to say, “I danced with Alvin Ailey.” Not with the company, of course, just with him, at a party, after the company performed at my college campus.
richardNobbs
That’s fantastic
Kangol2
Thank you for your reminiscence, @PoetDaddy.
I really want to see this as well. I also hope someone tells the feature-length biopic story of Arthur Mitchell, another visionary black gay man, who founded the Dance Theater of Harlem and the National Dance Theater of Brazil. He passed away only a year ago, but like Alvin Ailey, his legacy lives on and his influence is global.
Cam
Saw Moonlight and it was great, can’t wait for this.
enlightenone
A gift for the present moment of what PRIDE is!
Virpilosus
I’ll be looking forward to this film! I have see the AA dancers several times; SO GREAT! I am sure Mr. Ailey’s story will fill me with “pride,” and also bring me to tears…