Alvin Ailey: A Life in Dance

Rating:
Summary: A lively portrait about a trailblazer of American dance.
Review: This is a thorough, often riveting and eminently readable book about a trailblazer of American dance. A lively, affectionate and intimate portrait of this in every respect strongly gifted man who created the American Dance Theater.The dance critic and reporter of the New YorkTimes, Jennifer Dunning has written a compelling book about this multifarious figure who wrote by himself a full chapter of American cultural history. For the first time, the life and work of Alvin Ailey, one of the most beloved figures in modern dance, is entertainingly told, taking into account the often adverse personal and social circumstances he had to contend with for the 58 years of his life. When Alvin was born in Southeast Texas in 1931, public facilities were segregated, white children went to school and black children picked cotton. Yet he managed to overcome these social handicaps because " he was tremendously bright-terribly intelligent-intuitive-sharp". He was not ill at ease physically either:"beautiful, strong, wonderful smile with a perfect body and with the technique of dance well welded into his system".Homosexuality dit not simplify his life, as were episodes of manic depression and substance abuse.Alvin Ailey was a splendid artist, and his unique merits and talents are all the more appreciable because he had constantly to wrestle with a lot of heavy burdens, even when they were often self-inflicted. A doctoral thesis was written as early as 1973 about the life and works of this creator of the highest caliber, but we had to wait till now to have this enjoyable, splendidly written, sumptuously printed and well-illustrated book.I recommend strongly this "Life in Dance". Jan Mortelmans.