Ailey

As one of the most important choreographers in the history of modern dance, Alvin Ailey's life was nothing short of groundbreaking. Raised by a single mother in Jim Crow Texas, Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, at the age of just 27, with a mission to preserve the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience. Dedicated to his company and its mission, Ailey endured years of racism and homophobia, bearing the burden of fame as an African-American artist and setting an example for future generations. He became a towering figure in the world of dance, leaving behind a prolific and meaningful legacy when his life was cut short by the AIDS epidemic. Now, some three decades after his death, his legacy lives on through hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris as he creates a new dance work inspired by Ailey's life. Using never-before-heard audio interviews from the last year of Ailey's life, this documentary offers a rare perspective on the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey. As Harris brings Ailey's vision to a new generation, the documentary weaves present-day rehearsal processes with archival footage to showcase the enduring power of Ailey's transformative vision and expression of complete freedom through dance.