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A Decade of Dance at the Ailey Extension

Posted March 19, 2015


This month, the Ailey Extension celebrates 10 years of "Real Classes for Real People." In April 2005, the Joan Weill Center for Dance opened its doors, furthering Mr. Ailey’s mission to make dance accessible to everyone. Since its inception, the Extension has welcomed more than 86,000 students from around the world.

“This program was built on the legacy of Alvin Ailey, so it was imperative not only to have phenomenal teachers but instructors that could promote the importance of Mr. Ailey’s legacy while teaching dance to the community,” said Lisa Johnson-Willingham, Director of the Extension since 2011. “The majority of our instructors today have been a part of the Ailey family for more than a decade, so they can bring with them the spirit of this organization and share it with our students.”
 

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Top, left to right: Vic DiMonda (Theater Dance), Ailey Extension Director Lisa Johnson-Willingham, and Tiba (Capoeira). Bottom, left to right: Maguette Camara (West African), Quenia Ribeiro (Samba/Afro-Brazilian), TweetBoogie (hip-hop), and Jonathan Lee (hip-hop). Photos by Chandra Jackson


To help celebrate 10 years of dance, we spoke with longstanding instructors Robin Dunn, Maguette Camara, Vic DiMonda, TweetBoogie, Jonathan Lee, Quenia Ribeiro, and the incomparable Joan Peters (a former Ailey dancer), all of whom helped to start this program, about their experiences at the Ailey Extension.

Robin Dunn was the first to introduce hip-hop dance to the Ailey Studios and played an important role in introducing notable hip-hop pioneers Mr. Wiggles and Skeeter Rabbit of the legendary Electric Boogaloos to the Ailey Extension, along with current instructors TweetBoogie and Jonathan Lee. “My goal has been for my students to learn about the true essence of hip-hop,” she says.  “I want them to be comfortable and inspired to learn more.

If you’ve ever seen The Oprah Winfrey Show, you may have caught instructor TweetBoogie teaching Oprah hip-hop, and it’s no surprise that one of the dance instructor’s other cherished moments involves a member of Oprah’s entourage. “One of my favorite memories was when Gayle King took my class,” she recalled. “I was so surprised. She opened the door and I just stared at her thinking, ‘No wait…that can’t be her.’ I had to convince myself it wasn’t so I wouldn’t freak out—I had to keep my swag up.”


 

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Director Lisa Johnson-Willingham, in red dress, with members of the Ailey Extension staff. Photo by Chandra Jackson

During its early years, the Ailey Extension offered a smaller number of class options with instructors from the prestigious Ailey School, former dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and other outstanding dance teachers. Today, the Extension offers over 80 adult dance and fitness classes per week in 23 different techniques, as well as student performance workshops, master classes, a kids & teens program, group visits, and private classes for people from all over the world. “There have been many changes that have occurred at the Extension, but what keeps it special is that it makes everyone feel empowered to do whatever they want to do. It’s where you come and feel like you belong—even if you just started,” noted West African instructor Maguette Camara.

For the past 10 years, hip-hop instructor Jonathan Lee has been a constant on Thursdays and Saturdays, teaching the latest moves to beginner students with his unique and fun personality. Jonathan notes that he loves seeing the growth and development of his students. “I don't have just one memorable moment with the Extension but several. It's actually seeing the growth and development of the students of the Extension. Especially when the students have taken your class for a while, just observing the transformation that occurs is quite miraculous to watch.”


 

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Horton class at the Ailey Extension in 2005. Photo by Arthur Coopchick

Samba/Afro-Brazilian instructor Quenia Ribeiro echoed Jonathan’s sentiments, stating, “It is so hard to say what my favorite memory has been when I have shared so many great moments with all my students. I think the students that frequent my class find that I create a space where they can really be comfortable to express themselves. Some students refer to the Ailey Extension and Samba class at their church, temple, or therapy,” she said. “During one of our first parades around the block for the ‘Celebrate Brazil’ workshop, it was wonderful to see the looks of surprise and excitement on the faces of people who live and work in the neighborhood generated by our dancing, drums, and costumes. Also, every year, the World Dance Celebration gives students the opportunity to show their skills and all that they learn in a performance.”

“The beauty of the Extension is when I see students from all walks of life mingle with Broadway dancers and dancers who aspire to dance,” says Theater Dance instructor Vic DiMonda. “Both groups are enriched by each other.” As Dunham instructor Joan Peters puts it, “We are all so lucky to dance here. The Ailey Extension is not just a dance program.  It’s a way of life.”

Inspired to take a class? For class schedules, descriptions, prices & fees, and more, visit www.AileyExtension.com.

Blog article by Chandra Jackson.