Yes, all students, staff, faculty, administration, and visitors to the Joan Weill Center for Dance must be fully vaccinated* for Covid-19 with an approved vaccine, as described in the Vaccination Policy. *Fully vaccinated means that two weeks have passed since you received two doses of a two-dose vaccine, or a single dose of a one-dose vaccine considered effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and/or the World Health Organization (“WHO”). For answers to questions such as, "When am I fully vaccinated?" and "If I am fully vaccinated, do I have to quarantine if I am exposed to an individual who tests positive for Covid-19?", visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Students requesting an exemption should send an email to Dawn Tricarico, Associate Director of the Junior Division, at dtricarico@alvinailey.org for further instructions.

Yes. Ailey’s app is Healthcheck. This is a separate app from the health screening app utilized by Fordham University (for BFA students) and separate from the health attestation kiosk (SPLAN) located at the Ludlow Residence (for students residing at Ludlow).

Healthcheck user instructions>
Healthcheck password reset>
Healthcheck FAQ’s>

Yes. All Junior Division and Professional Division students must get a COVID-19 PCR Test (not an antigen test) 5 or less days prior to their first class at the beginning of the 2021 Summer Intensive, the fall 2021 term, and the spring 2022 term.

• Junior Division students must email test results to the Dawn Tricarico, Junior Division Associate Director, at dtricarico@alvinailey.org. If your test results are not returned by the time you are scheduled to begin classes at The Ailey School, contact Ms. Tricarico, immediately. JD Testing Protocol
• Professional Division students must email test results to Michela Boschetto, the Assistant to the School Co-Director, at mboschetto@alvinailey.org. If your test results are not returned by the time you are scheduled to begin classes at The Ailey School, contact Ms. Boschetto, immediately. PD Testing Protocol

Test results must show the following information:
Student’s full name; date of birth; type of COVID test (PCR); test result; date of test. 

Incomplete tests will not be accepted.
Students should refer to NY Forward for the most current travel and testing advisories.

Students can get a free COVID-19 test at many local pharmacies, or at one of the sites listed at the following links:

NYC Health and Hospitals>

NYC.gov - testing sites>

Mobile testing sites>

Mount Sinai Hospital Urgent Care>

Yes. Students are encouraged to bring their own mask that can be washed and re-used daily. Ailey will also have enough disposable masks, gloves, face shields (upon special request), hand sanitizers, and wipes on hand for everyone in the building.

Yes. For the safety of everyone in the building, all students, faculty, musicians, administrative staff, and company dancers are always required to wear a mask in the studios and in public areas of the building. Ailey recommends that everyone entering the building consult NY Forward and CDC to learn about cloth masks in order to make personal decisions regarding mask usage. However, Ailey does NOT recommend Gaitors, fleece, or bandanas. Fabric masks should be washed at home frequently.

Yes.  You will be required to take your no contact temperature prior to proceeding into the building. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, you will not be permitted to proceed into the building.

Yes.  You will be required to take your no contact temperature prior to proceeding into the building. If you register a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, you will not be permitted to proceed into the building.

All those who test positive will be required to quarantine for 10 days. Ailey will be in communication with all those impacted with further instructions. 

Contact tracing methods are in place to track the spread of infection through the HealthCheck app.  If a student (or instructor) tests positive for COVID-19, that person must quarantine for 10 days. Those in direct contact with this individual must receive a COVID-19 PCR test within 3-5 days of exposure; there is no need to quarantine while waiting for results. If the PCR test returns positive, a 10-day quarantine is required as recommended by the CDC. 

In the event that a quarantine is necessary, communication will be forthcoming, but Ailey’s fully vaccinated community allows for in-person instruction to continue. 

Yes, we encourage all students, faculty, musicians and staff to receive their annual flu shots.

Ailey is following all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Dance USA guidelines on cleaning and air flow. Details can be found in Ailey Forward. In brief, Ailey will clean all studios with electrostatic sprayers, use CDC approved cleaning supplies, and maximize airflow and air filters (Merv 13 and higher) in the HVAC system. Bathrooms are fully hands-free including toilet seat activated flushing devices.

We suggest you make a check-list to be certain you have covered some essential things, such as:

• Make sure you have a digital thermometer to monitor your temperature daily.
• Contact your primary care physician to see if they provide telehealth services.
• Make sure your health insurance is up to date, valid for the full duration of your enrollment at The Ailey School and is valid in New York State.
• Have enough CDC-recommended face masks for daily wear at The Ailey School.
• Have a supply of small bottles of hand sanitizer you can carry with you daily.
• Bring a basic First Aid Kit with you (ie: pain reliever/fever reducer, a supply of any personal medications you are prescribed to take by a physician, etc.). 
• Make sure your Emergency Contact person is listed in your cell phone under I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency)
• Make sure The Ailey School has your current telephone number and email on file, as well as that of your emergency contact person.

No. New York Forward states: The travel guidelines require all New Yorkers, as well as those visiting from out-of-state or another country, to take personal responsibility for compliance in the best interest of public health and safety. Asymptomatic travelers entering New York from another country, U.S. state, or territory are no longer required to test or quarantine as of April 10, 2021. Quarantine, consistent with the CDC recommendations, is still recommended for all travelers who are not fully vaccinated or have not recovered from laboratory confirmed COVID-19 during the previous 3 months. Symptomatic travelers must immediately self-isolate and contact the local health department or their healthcare providers to determine if they should seek COVID-19 testing. All travelers entering New York from a state that is not a contiguous state who have been outside of New York for more than 24 hours must complete the Traveler Health Form. Contiguous states to New York are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Students are encouraged to email aileyforward@alvinailey.org for ongoing questions, which will be kept confidential. Please use the subject line STUDENT COVID QUESTION.

Additionally, your school leaders are here to hear! Students can email their Faculty Advisor, School Staff, or The Ailey School Co-Directors with questions.

Please visit the following links for information:

New York Forward>
Center for Disease Control>
World Health Organization>

The Ailey School is closely monitoring the pandemic and strict safety protocols will be in place throughout the 2021-2022 school year, following the guidance of the CDC, NY Forward. Please see the Health & Safety category of FAQ's and refer to Ailey Forward for a detailed outline. All safety protocols are subject to change without notice.

Because of social distancing requirements, there will be 12 to 17 students to each cohort. Cohorts will be assigned to one studio each day where they will remain for all three of their daily classes. Faculty and musicians will change out in between techniques for each for each cohort.

Cohorts are not permitted to intermingle for rehearsal to prevent possible COVID exposure. If changes to this policy occur, students will be notified.

The number of weekly dance classes varies according to the program:

Scholarship Program students take 12 to 15 classes per week.

Certificate Program Students take 15 to 17 classes per week.

Independent Study Program students take 15 classes per week.

BFA Program students take 12 to 15 classes per week, in addition to their academic classes scheduled at Fordham University.

Classes take place Monday - Friday. Each class is 1 hour and 20 minutes long and will be scheduled back-to-back in most cases.

Students will take a daily ballet class, supplemented by Horton technique, Graham-based modern, and an elective class. Certificate students will also have one to two dance academic classes each week, as well as the Ailey Student Performance Group repertory workshop in their senior year. 

Online academic classes will be offered strictly online to prevent intermingling of cohorts. Students enrolled in an online academic class will be notified of Zoom and Google Classroom information prior to the class start date.
BFA students please note: Music for Dancers I & II, World Dance History, and Black Traditions in American Dance are courses offered at Fordham University. Please review Banner to determine the location for these classes as they may be in-person.

Once a student schedule is made and cohorts finalized, changes are not permitted. If a faculty feels a student needs to move to a different level, they may request a change with The Ailey School Co-Directors.

Yes, physical therapy appointments will take place in person and virtually. Students and PT’s must be masked at all times. Please refer to your Student Handbook for further information.

Yes.  Students must scan out upon exit and scan in with the Healthcheck app, as well as do a temperature check upon each re-entry.

As of this writing, live performances in the Ailey Citigroup Theater are not yet planned. The Ailey School is awaiting further guidance from the Governor's office about live performances and theater audiences being able to gather. Virtual performances may be scheduled to replace live performances.

At this time, all appointments with Faculty Advisors will take place virtually. Appointments can be made through Google Classroom.  

As of this writing, there are no on-campus work opportunities due to restrictions on how many people may occupy the administrative offices.

Unfortunately, on-campus employment is not available for the 2021-2022 school year. International students must document that they have sufficient funding prior to entering the U.S. and should be financially solvent throughout their enrollment.

Professional Division Students are permitted to wear colorful form fitting dance attire of their choice while adhering to the guidelines listed in The Ailey School Student Handbook. 

Dressing rooms and lockers rooms are closed for the school year. Students must arrive at school 'under-dressed' with their dance clothes underneath their street clothes. Students are strictly forbidden to change clothes in the bathrooms.

Students are not permitted to use the elevators. Students must take the stairs to and from each floor.

The student lounge is currently closed. The patio is open, weather permitting. Students must remain masked except when eating.

Vending machines are available on the Lower Level. Water fountains are located throughout the building. An ice machine for non-potable ice is located on the 5^th floor.

Students who wish to apply for acceptance to the Scholarship Program, Certificate Program, or Independent Study Program for the 2021-2022 school year must submit a video audition.  Students must follow the instructions detailed on the Auditions page.
Students who wish to apply to the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program should refer to the Admissions section of the BFA Program page.

All applicants to the 2021-2022 school year may submit a video audition.  Our normal policy requires an in-person audition of all students who wish to be considered for acceptance to the Certificate Program or Scholarship Program, with the exception of international students who are applying from abroad.

There is a $20 audition fee for all Scholarship Program,Certificate Program, Independent Study Program, and Summer Program auditions.  You can sign up for the audition and pay the fee by following the links on the Admissions page of the web site. There is a $35 application fee for BFA applicants, and an audition fee for those applicants who are invited to attend an audition.

There is a $20 fee for all Independent Study Program and Summer Intensive applicants who wish to audition by video. You may pay the fee online at the links provided on the program pages.

You must fill out an online application, pay an audition fee, and upload your audition video by following the instructions on our audition  page. 

No, we do not schedule private or in-class auditions.

Students may audition once per calendar year. If you are not accepted at your first audition, you must wait until the following year to try again.

Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail within three weeks of an audition.

No. The Ailey School does not provide performance critiques or discuss the artistic panel’s decision after an audition.

Students may take both Horton and Graham-based modern even if they have no prior training in those techniques. However, in some cases Faculty Advisors may feel it is more beneficial for a student to concentrate on one technique only. This is decided on a case by case basis between Faculty Advisor and student.

Each student at The Ailey School is placed in levels according to their individual proficiency in ballet, Horton, and Graham-based modern. Levels are determined at the audition or by the department chairpersons during placement classes at the beginning of the students first term of study. Students are advised that levels at The Ailey School may not correspond to the levels at their prior schools. The Ailey School has 7 levels of ballet, 4 levels of Horton, and 4 levels of Graham-based modern. Pointe, Partnering, and Men’s Ballet are offered to students in ballet IV or higher. Students are placed jazz levels according to their ballet levels.

Yes. The Ailey School has limited housing during the academic year at The Ludlow Residence dormitory in lower Manhattan. Housing at The Ludlow Residence is partially subsidized and granted to students based on their financial need and artistic merit.

Yes. The Ailey School offers housing at the nearby Fordham University dormitory for students 15 years and older, and at the Ludlow Residence for students who are 17 year of age and older. Students must be enrolled in the Summer Intensive to be eligible for summer housing.

Auditions for Ailey II are by invitation only.  Students from the school's full-time training programs are invited to audition for Ailey II by The Ailey School Co-Directors and the Ailey II Artistic Director.

Only advanced students who are on Threshold or in their last year of study and are preparing to enter the dance field may request permission from The Ailey School Co-Directors to perform outside of the School.

Yes. A limited number of merit-based scholarships are available to students who meet the artistic criteria for acceptance to the Scholarship Program. Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis during the academic year and summer term by audition only. Merit-based scholarships are not available to students in the Independent Study Program or Certificate Program, although those students may apply for need-based Federal Financial Aid.  

International students must successfully complete the program in which they are enrolled in order to be eligible for Post -Completion Practical Training: three years in the Certificate Program; one year in the Independent Study Program; and one year in the Scholarship Program. Students who wish to apply for OPT must first have a final evaluation meeting with their Faculty Advisor at the end of their last semester of study. Once it has been confirmed that all program requirements have been met and that there have been no excessive absences, the student may meet with the International Student Advisor to request OPT.

Yes. Professional Division students who are enrolled in any of the full time programs may attend Ailey Extension classes for 1/2 price on weekends only.  Students may not attend Ailey Extension classes Monday through Friday.

No. Students are not allowed to take any Professional Division classes other than the classes that have been assigned to them by their Faculty Advisor.