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.
You may email COVID-19 related inquiries to aileyforward@alvinailey.org

AILEY FORWARD

Ailey Forward document 7/6/2021 

Ailey Forward Appendices

Current School Operations

The Ailey School is open for in-person and virtual Junior Division with a limited administrative staff on site at the Joan Weill Center for Dance. Due to the COVID19 pandemic and social distancing safety measures, all but the most essential School workers are working remotely and continue with all of the school's daily operations.

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

Message from the Co-Directors

Dear Ailey School Parents and Students,

We hope that you and your families have remained safe throughout the summer.

As the end of the 2020-2021 Academic Year quickly approaches, unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak is still here even as vaccinations increase and New York opens up under the governor's and mayor's guidelines. 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 last September 2020, 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, operated quite differently. With adherence to strict safety protocol and according to national, state, and local safety guidelines, most of our administrative staff continued to work remotely. Staff and public access to the building was kept to as low capacity as possible.

Now, under advisement from medical and regulatory counsel, throughout the 2021-2022 Academic Year, The Ailey School will continue to operate at limited capacity.

The program offering for The Ailey School Junior Division Program for the 2021-2022 Academic Year will be limited to Pre-Professional Program students recommended for placement in the second year of Level III (only), a portion of Level IV, Level V, and Level VI/VII. In the past, our offering has been structured to accommodate enrollment in four sections of Levels III and IV. This year, Level IV will be limited to two sections and Level III will be limited to one section only.

The 2021–2022 tuition prices and tentative class schedules (subject to change) will be available on the website late May.

Classes for the following programs and levels within the Junior Division will not be held for the 2021-2022 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, and a portion of Level III and 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 two weeks. For more information and FAQs, go to https://www.theaileyschool.edu/ailey-school-faqs. All other questions may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

Subsequent communication with more specific information from our Junior Division will be forwarded within one week.  We will remain in touch with updates should opportunities to expand the Junior Division program offering arise prior to September 2022 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 Pre-Professional Program 2021-2022

In keeping with Alvin Ailey’s visionary philosophy of training versatile dancers, The Junior Division Pre-Professional Program 2021-2022 offers curriculum based training 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 Limón; along with Jazz, West African and Contemporary. Students will receive individualized feedback and personal advisement. Students recommended for placement in Levels III, IV, V, and VI/VII are eligible to enroll. Classes will be held online and in studio. For more information email juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

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

Absence Notification

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.

Absence Notification Form  

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

Message from the Co-Directors

Dear Ailey School Parents and Students,

We hope that you and your families have remained safe throughout the summer.

As the end of the 2020-2021 Academic Year quickly approaches, unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak is still here even as vaccinations increase and New York opens up under the governor's and mayor's guidelines. 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 last September 2020, 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, operated quite differently. With adherence to strict safety protocol and according to national, state, and local safety guidelines, most of our administrative staff continued to work remotely. Staff and public access to the building was kept to as low capacity as possible.

Now, under advisement from medical and regulatory counsel, throughout the 2021-2022 Academic Year, The Ailey School will continue to operate at limited capacity.

The program offering for The Ailey School Junior Division Program for the 2021-2022 Academic Year will be limited to Pre-Professional Program students recommended for placement in the second year of Level III (only), a portion of Level IV, Level V, and Level VI/VII. In the past, our offering has been structured to accommodate enrollment in four sections of Levels III and IV. This year, Level IV will be limited to two sections and Level III will be limited to one section only.

The 2021–2022 tuition prices and tentative class schedules (subject to change) will be available on the website late May.

Classes for the following programs and levels within the Junior Division will not be held for the 2021-2022 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, and a portion of Level III and 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 two weeks. For more information and FAQs, go to https://www.theaileyschool.edu/ailey-school-faqs. All other questions may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

Subsequent communication with more specific information from our Junior Division will be forwarded within one week.  We will remain in touch with updates should opportunities to expand the Junior Division program offering arise prior to September 2022 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. 

NOTE:  FAQ's listed below pertain to procedures at The Ailey School prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not be applicable during the current school year. Click here for current FAQ's.