On December 7th, SHS physical education teacher Margaret Bryant took her classes to attend a performance in New York City by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. “We were able to see the most famous modern dance company in the world dance one of their most famous pieces, Revelations,” Bryant exclaimed. For those that went on the trip, it presented not only a long-awaited break from school but also an exciting learning opportunity for all dancers and non-dancers alike.
Founded by the African-American dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey himself, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater has been around since the late 50s. Since then, it has been thriving, with its shows racking up fame all around the globe.
“What I love most about Ailey is that so many of the company’s dances are timeless and speak to so many different kinds of people, while really attempting to unify us — expressing so many commonalities in all humans,” Bryant expressed when discussing the lessons her and her students learned from her trip.

She feels that dance can be a powerful way to connect students, rather than pushing them apart. Through a series of powerful and evocative dance movements, this sentiment is best reflected in the company’s dance “Revelations.” Simply going to watch the performance provided “a really amazing bonding experience” for the students “and can help create relationships with many different people,” SHS student and dancer Ana Schultz ’25 remarked.

For Schultz, watching the production of “Revelations” proved to be more than just a way to get out of school. She was able to “learn more about Modern Dance and watch a performance by people who are so incredible.” Beyond that, the piece the dancers performed was especially special for her. Having performed the same exact piece in the past year, Schultz was able to “see the differences and similarities” between her and Alvin Ailey’s performance, allowing her to improve on her craft.
The uniqueness of the trip stemmed from the talented dancer company they saw; Ailey II, a developing company not much older than the high schoolers themselves, did not disappoint. “Watching how young people who have worked so hard to become so expressive with their bodies share their souls is a joyful thing to witness,” Bryant conveyed. She hopes that the emotions expressed throughout their dance not only entertained the students but also inspired them in their own dance.​​ The feelings of “hope, community, joy, and the human spirit” in the company’s dance can provide an outlet “to all who have been oppressed, have suffered, or have been treated unfairly,” Bryant said.

Although the dancers from Ailey II, who only performed “Revelations,” certainly provided a stunning and inspiring performance, Bryant hopes to expand her Alvin Ailey repertoire in the future. She encourages everyone from her next-year P.E. classes to go on the journey to NYC. “We hope to take a nighttime trip to see the Main Ailey Company — and see a performance which includes not just Revelations, but some of the other classics that Ailey is so famous for.”