Ailey Experience Atlanta: Modern Dance Masterclass
with Matthew Rushing
Saturday, February 20, 2021 | 6:00pm - 7:15pm EST
Join Alvin Ailey's Associate Artistic Director for a special masterclass in modern dance. This hour-long modern class will focus on tools that are useful for dancers of all levels to access a deeper and more articulate way of moving within the modern dance technique. The class will consist of a basic modern warmup, across the floor, a dance combination, coaching, and discussions to help provide understanding and clarity of movement.
Open to all ages and levels.
About Matthew
Matthew Rushing was born in Los Angeles, California. He began his dance training with Kashmir Blake in Inglewood, California, and later continued his training at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He is the recipient of a Spotlight Award and a Dance Magazine Award and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He was a scholarship student at The Ailey School and later became a member of Ailey II. During his career Mr. Rushing has performed as a guest artist for galas in Vail, Colorado, as well as in Austria, Canada, France, Italy, and Russia. He has performed for Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as at the 2010 White House Dance Series. During his time with the Company, he has choreographed three ballets: Acceptance In Surrender (2005), a collaboration with Hope Boykin and Abdur-Rahim Jackson; Uptown (2009), a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance; and ODETTA (2014), a celebration of “the queen of American folk music.” In 2012 he created Moan, which was set on Philadanco and premiered at The Joyce Theater. Mr. Rushing joined the Company in 1992 and became rehearsal director 2010, and he became the associate artistic director in January 2020.