Media Alvin Ailey + Revelations
Find out how Alvin Ailey explored themes of African American heritage and culture through dance.
Kennedy Center Education Learning Guide
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Fri. Feb. 7, 2025
11a.m.
Event Information
-
Genre
Performances for Young Audiences
An image of James Gilmer from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Photo by Dario Calmese.
Image caption: James Gilmer. Photo by Dario Calmese.
SCHOOL-TIME MINI PERFORMANCE
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
More than 25 million people in 71 countries have seen Revelations, making it the most widely-viewed modern dance work in the world. It takes a special work to remain as timeless as when it was created in 1960—and it takes a special company to perform it with unparalleled artistry. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has always been a treasured part of the Kennedy Center experience since we opened our doors in 1971. The company is a powerful incubator of pure talent, and you’ll watch as Ailey’s newest dancers showcase their skills amidst the virtuosity of the most tenured dancers. Audiences will experience mixed repertory programs of signature Ailey classics and new works from the most dynamic choreographers of today—and each performance ends with the soul-stirring masterpiece Revelations.
February 7, 2025
Opera House, recommended for grades 4-8
Estimated duration is approximately 60 minutes.
Image caption: James Gilmer. Photo by Dario Calmese.
Learning guide content for this event will be available approximately two weeks before the performance.
Share your feedback!
We’re thrilled that you’ve joined us for a performance this season! We would like to hear from your students and you about the experience. After the performance, follow these steps to share feedback:
- Share the survey link with your students for them to complete .
- Complete .
- If you’re a parent or caregiver, .
Each survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. The results will be used to inform future Kennedy Center Education program planning. Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable perspective!
Related Resources
Judith Jamison on The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Judith Jamison, artistic director of The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, discusses her pride in the name and mission of the company, why modern dance is important, the legacy of Alvin Ailey, and how dance is a condition of being human.
Media Music as Dance's Muse
See how four choreographers (Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Larry Keigwin, and Mark Morris) use music in different ways in their works.
Media Do You Wanna Dance?
Want to understand how dance works? Learn the five elements that make up the foundation of this art form: body, action, time, space, and energy.
Lesson Jazz Music, Dance, and Poetry
In this 3-5 lesson, students will explore jazz music and dance, then write a jazz-inspired cinquain poem. They will build their background on the history of jazz and its use of improvisation to demonstrate jazz dance movements.Â
Lesson Elements of Dance
In this 6-8 lesson, students will choreograph simple dances in small groups and perform for the class. Students will learn elements of dance and vocabulary by demonstrating various movements.Â
Media Five(ish) Minute Dance Lessons
Our collection of short dance lessons will teach the moves that will let you hit the dance floor looking like a pro. From the African Dinhe, to the East Coast Swing, Charleston, Salsa or Cha Cha Cha, we've got you covered. Get your groove on!
Collection Dance
What’s the difference between troika and hula? How can dance tell stories and preserve histories? Discover dance and its impact on culture by exploring Ancient Egyptian rituals and Native American legends. Learn how dance tells stories and poems through a language of movement and music, and pick up a few moves yourself.
Kennedy Center Education
Building the Future
of Arts Education
Professional development for educators. Summer intensives for young artists. Teaching artist guided activities. Performances for young audiences. Classroom lesson plans. Arts-focused digital media.
Kennedy Center Education offers a wide array of resources and experiences that inspire, excite, and empower students and young artists, plus the tools and connections to help educators incorporate the arts into classrooms of all types.
Our current teaching and learning priorities include:
Digital Resources Library
A robust collection of articles, videos, and podcasts that allow students of all ages to explore and learn about the arts online.
Performances for Schools
In-person and virtual performances, along with supporting educational content to help guide learning.
Current Topics in Arts Integration
Current approaches to arts integration in the classroom, inclusion, rigor, and adopting an arts integration approach at the school and district level.
An asynchronous online course that invites educators and administrators to think about our students’ disabilities as social and cultural identities that enrich our classrooms and communities.
Kennedy Center Education
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.