Emory was referring to Alvin Ailey, the Black activist and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, when Black stories weren’t being told onstage through modern dance. "He’s just as important as Michael Jordan,” said Tremaine Emory. Christina Giannini Lighting Chenault Spence Choreography coaching Judith Jamison & Donna Wood SandersĬomplex: How Tremaine Emory is Sharing The Legacy of Alvin Ailey, an Icon He Says Is ‘Just As Important As Michael Jordan’ World: New York City Center, 1971 Restaging Masazumi Chaya Music Alice Coltrane's "Something about John Coltrane," Laura Nyro's "Been on a Train," The Voices of East Harlem "Right on. + View - Hide Repertory Credits Choreographer Alvin Ailey Run Time 17 Minutes Premiere Company: New York City Center, 1971 The original production of Cry was made possible, in part, by a grant from Ford Foundation. This production of Cry was made possible with generous support from Judith McDonough Kaminski and Joseph Kaminski. Ailey dedicated this piece to "all Black women everywhere-especially our mothers." In this 3-section solo, the dancer, clad in a white leotard and long ruffled skirt, brings the audience on a journey of bitter sorrow, brutal hardship and ecstatic joy. We went into the studio.and began moving to the music.and in a few days.Alvin made an enduring work of art.Cheering audiences still have Alvin's birthday present to his mother." In those days, none of us could shop at Tiffany or Bloomingdales, so Alvin decided the nicest present he could give his mother was a ballet. You see, she was coming from Texas to see her son's company and Alvin knew she'd be celebrating a birthday in New York. ".it was a birthday present for Alvin's mother. Judith Jamison speaks about the creation of Cry: Coming out of a world of pain and trouble, she has found her way-and triumphed." In my interpretation, she represented those women before her who came from the hardships of slavery, through the pain of losing loved ones, through overcoming extraordinary depressions and tribulations.
Jamison wrote: "Exactly where the woman is going through the ballet's three sections was never explained to me by Alvin. Jamison could both be considered the archetypal Ailey woman – a role that has been passed on to all the women in the Ailey ranks to whom Ms. Alvin Ailey choreographed his signature solo Cry as a birthday present for his dignified mother, and created the dance on his stunning muse, Judith Jamison.