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Alicia Graf Mack is leading Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater into a New Era
For nearly seven decades, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has stood as one of the world's most influential cultural institutions, combining technical excellence, emotional storytelling and a commitment to reflecting the breadth of the human experience through dance. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1958, the company has become synonymous with artistic innovation while remaining deeply connected to the legacy of its founder. As the company prepares for another highly anticipated season at London's Sadler's Wells, a new chapter is unfolding under the leadership of artistic director Alicia Graf Mack. For Mack, the appointment represents both a homecoming and a profound responsibility.
"I am very excited and blessed to return home to Ailey in this capacity as artistic director," she says. "I was a member of the company for six years prior to that, and I have been looking towards the Ailey Company as my North Star since I was a child." That journey, from aspiring young dancer to artistic leader of one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world, was never something she anticipated. Yet as she reflects on taking the helm, her excitement is matched by a deep sense of duty.
The company's arrival at Sadler's Wells marks the beginning of an important international tour, one that carries particular significance for both the organisation and its audiences abroad.
"Sadler's Wells is a very important theatre to us," Mack explains. "We have performed there so many times over many decades. It feels in so many ways like a home theatre as well."
Generations of dance lovers have embraced the company's annual visits, returning year after year to witness performances that balance tradition with innovation. That enduring relationship places unique expectations on each new season, especially one spearheaded by a new artistic director.
Stepping into such a high-profile role has not been without challenges. Mack acknowledges that leading an institution built on the vision of Alvin Ailey and subsequently nurtured by the legendary Judith Jamison can feel daunting.
"Ailey is quite a legacy," she says. "It's a beloved organisation by so many across so many generations around the world." Mack credits Jamison, whom she considers a mentor, as a major influence on her development as both an artist and arts leader. Yet rather than being overwhelmed by the scale of the responsibility, she draws strength from the community that has sustained the organisation throughout its history.
"There are so many people who are keeping the torch alive here," she says. "I think I am grounded in the idea that if Mr Ailey could create this company in 1958 against all odds, I can keep the torch alive in 2026."
This philosophy is reflected in the programme being presented at Sadler's Wells. The season showcases works that demonstrate the remarkable breadth of the company's artistic range while highlighting its commitment to new perspectives and contemporary voices.
Among the featured works is Blink of an Eye by Medhi Walerski a piece Mack describes as highly contemporary in its movement.
"It is a fusion of ballet and modern dance styles," she says. "It's choreographed to classical music, but in the way that it's interpreted, it feels very fresh and very new." The programme also includes Judith Jamison's A Case of You, recently returned to the fold following her passing. For Mack, the work embodies Jamison's belief in allowing dancers to bring their own individuality into performance.
"She emphasised that she wanted you to be seen through her voice, through her work," Mack explains. Another highlight is Lar Lubovitch's Many Angels, a work that reveals a different side of the Ailey aesthetic. Set to music by Gustav Mahler, the piece showcases vulnerability, grace and lyrical beauty.
"It is angelic. It is heavenly," Mack exclaims.
Song of the Anchorite by Jamar Roberts, a former company dancer who has established himself as an internationally respected choreographer, is also in the programme. Inspired by Hermit Songs, a work Alvin Ailey created for himself in 1960, Roberts' piece exemplifies what Mack describes as "legacy in motion".
"This is how we innovate," she says. "We hold on to our legacy. We hold on to Mr Ailey's vision and aesthetic, and we are inspired to create and innovate along that line of DNA."
Each generation inherits the company's artistic DNA while contributing new perspectives that keep the work vibrant and relevant.
This year, three new performers will make their international debuts with the company after first appearing in Brooklyn earlier in the season. Their arrival adds fresh energy to a company already rich in experience and artistic maturity.
Alongside them are veteran artists, Yannick Lebrun and Constance Stamatiou, whose experience has become integral to the company. Mack sees enormous value in this intergenerational exchange.
"To see these senior members who bring that great sense of artistic maturity and experience, and then to see our new dancers and all the range in between, everyone is uniquely gifted in so many ways," she says.
As the company embarks on its latest international tour, excitement is palpable. The previous season did not include an overseas tour, making this year's journey especially meaningful for Mack.
"We're in a very special period right now," she says. "Just hearing the enthusiasm and excitement from people in Europe who are soon to experience what we have to offer is so uplifting." For audiences at Sadler's Wells, that experience promises to be both familiar and new. The spirit that Alvin Ailey established remains unmistakable, yet the company continues to stretch its artistic boundaries, embracing fresh voices while honouring those who came before.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater New Works/Legacy is performing at Sadler's Wells until 19 September. You can book here
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