Ailey School Students to Dance in Macy’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 26, 2008
Photo by Justin Garlinghouse.
Students from The Ailey School, the professional performing arts school of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), will be dancing in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. This is the first time the Ailey organization has made an appearance in the parade’s 82-year history. The Ailey School dancers will perform choreography inspired by “Wade in the Water” from Alvin Ailey’s celebrated Revelations.
The students, ages 9 to 23, are under the direction of AAADT alum and co-director of the school’s junior division, Tracy Inman, and current AAADT member Matthew Rushing. Jacqueline Green, an 18 year-old sophomore in the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. program, says she is fulfilling a life-long dream. “Being able to perform Revelations for the parade is awesome.” Paul Michael Gamble, a 14 year-old junior division student, agreed. “It feels great...being able to represent Alvin Ailey for the 50th Anniversary is truly an honor.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was started in 1924 by store employees. It will be broadcast Thursday, Nov. 27, on NBC.
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