Ailey Forward
Safety Plan for re-opening the Joan Weill Center for Dance

We are pleased to share Ailey Forward, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation's Safety Plan to reopen The Joan Weill Center for Dance in compliance with Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Safety Guidelines as outlined in New York Forward.

AILEY FORWARD

Ailey Forward document

Ailey Forward Appendices

Dear Ailey School Parents,

We hope that you and your families have remained safe throughout the summer. As the start of the 2020-2021 academic year quickly approaches, unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak has not abated. Leadership within the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation has given careful consideration as to how the organization can safely, effectively and efficiently continue to offer quality educational programming. Upon reopening later this month, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, home to The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Ailey Arts-In-Education and Community Programs, The Ailey Extension and The Ailey School’s Professional Division, Ailey/PPAS and Junior Division programs, will operate quite differently. Administrative staff will continue to work remotely. Staff and public access to the building will be kept to as low capacity as possible in compliance with New York State’s mandated guidelines for reopening facilities, businesses, and organizations such as the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.

At this time, it has been determined that the program offering for The Ailey School Junior Division Program will be limited to Pre-Professional Program students who have been recommended for placement in Level IV, Level V, and Level VI/VII only. In the past, our offering has been able to accommodate enrollment in four sections of Level IV. This year Level IV will be limited to two sections only. Additional registration information including class schedules will be available no later than August 19th.

Classes for the following programs and levels within the Junior Division will not be held for the 2020-2021 Academic Year:

• The First Steps and Bounding Boys Creative Movement Program
• The Ailey Athletic Boys Program (Levels A, B, C and Level 3)
• Pre-Professional Program Levels I, II, III and a portion of Level IV

During these unprecedented times, we wish to thank you for your support and commitment to training at The Ailey School throughout the years. Families who have a remaining credit on their accounts will receive an e-mail directly from our bursar regarding payment options or options for refunds within a week. For more information visit our COVID FAQs and select COVID-19 – Junior Division 2020-2021 School Year FAQs . All other questions may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

We will remain in touch with updates should opportunities to expand the Junior Division program offering arise prior to September 2021 and look forward to welcoming you and your children back to Junior Division classes in what we hope will be the near future.

Sincerely,

Melanie Person and Tracy Inman
Directors of The Ailey School

The Junior Division Virtual Training Program

In response to the lingering public health challenges and conditions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ailey School has chosen to transition to a Flexible Hybrid Learning Environment (FHLE) for instructional delivery. As such, classes will be offered according to a hybrid schedule of both online classes and in-person classes held at The Ailey Studios. 

In keeping with Alvin Ailey’s visionary philosophy of training versatile dancers, The Junior Division Virtual Training Program offers curriculum based Pre-Professional training for students ages 13 to 17 taught by The Ailey School’s most experienced and distinguished faculty and company alumni. 

The program offers a graded-level curriculum of classical ballet, modern techniques including Horton and Limon; along with Jazz and Contemporary. Students will receive individualized feedback and personal advisement.  Students recommended for placement in Levels IV, V, and VI/VII are eligible to enroll.

Weekday classes will be held online and Saturday classes will take place in-studio.For more information email juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

Current parents and students click here for updated program announcements and information.

Absences

Students in the Junior Division Program are permitted three absences per semester. Please fill out the appropriate Absence Notification Form below prior to the date of the absences and no later than within 48 hours of the class(es) missed. If you have any questions, please email juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

First Steps & Bounding Boys Absence

Pre-Professional (Levels I-VII & AABD) Absence

Preferred Dancewear of The Ailey School

Use code VEBZMG to order your dancewear online 
and BLOCH will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Ailey School. 

Ailey Forward
Safety Plan for re-opening the Joan Weill Center for Dance

We are pleased to share Ailey Forward, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation's Safety Plan to reopen The Joan Weill Center for Dance in compliance with Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Safety Guidelines as outlined in New York Forward.

Ailey Forward

Dear Ailey School Parents,

We hope that you and your families have remained safe throughout the summer. As the start of the 2020-2021 academic year quickly approaches, unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak has not abated. Leadership within the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation has given careful consideration as to how the organization can safely, effectively and efficiently continue to offer quality educational programming. Upon reopening later this month, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, home to The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Ailey Arts-In-Education and Community Programs, The Ailey Extension and The Ailey School’s Professional Division, Ailey/PPAS and Junior Division programs, will operate quite differently. Administrative staff will continue to work remotely. Staff and public access to the building will be kept to as low capacity as possible in compliance with New York State’s mandated guidelines for reopening facilities, businesses, and organizations such as the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. 

At this time, it has been determined that the program offering for The Ailey School Junior Division Program will be limited to Pre-Professional Program students who have been recommended for placement in Level IV, Level V, and Level VI/VII only. In the past, our offering has been able to accommodate enrollment in four sections of Level IV. This year Level IV will be limited to two sections only. Additional registration information including class schedules will be available no later than August 19th.

Classes for the following programs and levels within the Junior Division will not be held for the 2020-2021 Academic Year: 

• The First Steps and Bounding Boys Creative Movement Program
• The Ailey Athletic Boys Program (Levels A, B, C and Level 3)
• Pre-Professional Program Levels I, II, III and a portion of Level IV

During these unprecedented times, we wish to thank you for your support and commitment to training at The Ailey School throughout the years. Families who have a remaining credit on their accounts will receive an e-mail directly from our bursar regarding payment options or options for refunds within a week. For more information visit our COVID FAQs and select COVID-19 – Junior Division 2020-2021 School Year FAQs . All other questions may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

We will remain in touch with updates should opportunities to expand the Junior Division program offering arise prior to September 2021 and look forward to welcoming you and your children back to Junior Division classes in what we hope will be the near future.

Sincerely,

Melanie Person and Tracy Inman
Directors of The Ailey School

Directions from Airports

Public transportation in New York City is very good and regardless of your port of entry you will probably have several options to consider. Remember that The Ailey School does not provide arrival services, so plan ahead. Try to arrive in the daytime when more services are available.  You can find directions from the major airports at this link: http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk.html or refer to the information below:

From JFK International Airport or LaGuardia Airport

BY TAXI

A taxi is the easiest, most direct way to The Ailey School, McMahon Hall, or the Ludlow Residence. The cost is approximately $45 (plus a few dollars tip). Taxis are available at ground level at each airport. Drivers are familiar with the way to most locations in Manhattan. Make sure you have the exact address of whichever location you are headed to for the driver.

BY BUS & SUBWAY

Buses provided by New York Airport Service are available to Manhattan and make stops at both Grand Central Station, (East 42nd Street and Lexington Ave.), and the NY Port Authority Bus Terminal (West 42nd Street and 8th Ave.). Buses depart from the airport every fifteen (15) minutes until 11:00pm. The fare is $15 and no advance reservations are necessary. For more info, contact New York Airport Service at 718-875-8200 or go to their web site: www.nyairportservice.com.

Once you arrive at either Grand Central Station or Port Authority, you can take a taxi to your final destination for a fare of $10.00 - $20.00 (plus tips to the driver), or you can take the subway. For subway directions go to www.hopstop.com. Enter your starting destination as either “Grand Central Station” or “Port Authority Bus Terminal”, and one of the following addresses for your final destination:

• The Ailey School — 405 West 55th Street, (corner of 9th Ave.)
• McMahon — 155 West 60th, (near Amsterdam Ave.)
• Ludlow Residence — 101 Ludlow Street, (near Delancey Street)

From Newark International Airport

If you are arriving at Newark Airport, Olympia Trails operates a bus service from the Ground Transportation Information Booth. The fare is $15 and no advance reservations are necessary. For more info on this service, call Olympia Trails 1-877-8-NEWARK or go to their web site: www.olympiabus.com. Limousine and taxi service is also available for approximately $50 - $75 (plus a $15 surcharge).

The Joan Weill Center for Dance

The Joan Weill Center for Dance is nestled between the Theater District and Lincoln Center areas of New York City and is the largest building in the United States that is devoted solely to the art of dance. The building has climate controlled studios, a student lounge, an outdoor patio, an Ailey Boutique concession and gift shop, a physical therapy room, three floors of administrative offices, and a full-equipped black box theater that seats 275.

Lower Level (LL)

• Dressing rooms for Professional Division students
• Studios LLA and LLB – classrooms and black-box theater
• Green room,  Backstage dressing rooms
• Student Lounge
• Costume Inventory

Performance Entry Level (PE)

• Box Office
• Junior Division Dressing rooms
• Library
• Theater Entry

Ground Floor

• Lobby, studios, and stairs to PE (theater entry level)
• Security Desk
• Ailey Extension Sign-in Desk
• Ailey Boutique
• Outdoor Patio

Second floor

• Reception area & Appointment books
• Administrative Offices for The Ailey School and Arts in Education

Third floor

• Physical Therapy Room
• Administrative Offices for Finance, Production, and Facilities.

Fourth floor

• Administrative Offices for External Affairs, Executive Director, and Artistic Director.

Fifth and Sixth floors

• Studios, lounge, and dressing rooms for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II.

Preferred Dancewear of The Ailey School

Use code VEBZMG to order your dancewear online 
and BLOCH will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Ailey School.