Alvin Ailey

When I finished reading this book to him, my five-and-a-half-year-old said, "Mom, if I could live a life like his, I would be so happy!" He then proceeded to demonstrate a dance he'd made up about the book. "Here's where I swing my hips!" he said. "Now get ready...I'm about to sing!" and he danced while belting out his rendition of "Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham," which appears in the book.

This book earned five stars just for the living room performance it inspired, but it was darned good even without it. Not only is the story inspiring and the illustrations wonderful, this is one of the few books I've found about a boy who dances that doesn't use (or imply) the word "sissy." It's just about a boy---and then a man---who loves to show more dance so much that he finds a way to share this love with the world. Just the kind of message I want for my ballet- and jazz-loving son. show less

Alvin Ailey is a great biography that teaches young children about some of the amazing things Alvin did in the dance world during the civil rights movement. We learn about his childhood, how he learned to dance, and his success as a black male dancer during this time. It can be used in the classroom for numerous different reasons such as: to teach African American history, to teach about biographies, and to teach about dance.
Of course, I loved this book given my dance background at the Ailey School. But, I especially loved it because he is still widely know today and one of the most successful dancers. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs Revelations at the end of every single show, and I have seen the company perform it more show more times than I can count. Every single time, I could not help but dance to the music. I was swaying to the rhythm while reading the lyrics to Revelations in the book. I also loved the background this book teaches about Lester Horton and Martha Graham. Two world renowned modern choreographers and two of Alvin's teachers/ biggest inspirations. At the Ailey school, my modern classes were Horton and Graham based technique classes. Reading this picture book and having it connect to my personal life made it extremely enjoyable for me. It stirred up all different kinds of emotions inside about my time spent in NYC at the Ailey School. show less

Alvin Ailey, credited with revolutionizing and popularizing modern dance, is profiled in this picture-book biography. The authors begin with Ailey’s childhood in Texas and moves with him to Los Angeles and then New York, where he forms his own dance troupe (still in operation today although Ailey died in 1989). Ailey’s choreography combined techniques from ballet, modern dance, jazz, and African dance. The illustrator focuses on the dynamic and vibrant motions of the dancers, showing them leaping and twirling and bending and turning. This inspirational book may help readers envision less stereotypical paths open to them in life.

Alvin Ailey became a great dancer at a time when that was a struggle for an African American. Many schools would not accept him because of his race. Luckily for Ailey, he found a school and was able to do what he was meant to do.

I really enjoyed this account of Ailey's journey to becoming a dancer and owning his own dance company. However, like I have noticed in other biographies for children, the ending feels too rushed. I know the focus was on his struggle to becoming a dancer, but I would like to have learned more about Ailey as a leader and teacher in his company.

This book would fit perfectly into any unit about African Americans as it shows Ailey's contributions to the American dance world.

This was the true life story of Alvin Ailey. Alvin is a black man who was born in the south in the generation of segregation. However, through hard work, perseverance, and talent, he was eventually invited to perform at white establishments and largely accepted by the dance community, despite it being unusual for them to accept/respect a black dancer. His motivational life led him to form his own dance company for African Americans, which still performs today.