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 2/9/2021 

Ailey Forward Appendices

Current School Operations

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared all but essential workers to remain at home and observe social distancing. The Ailey School will open for Professional Division classes on August 31 with a limited administrative staff on site. All other School staff are working remotely and continue with all of the school's daily operations.

2020-2021 School Year Announcements

Dear Students,

We are thrilled that you have elected to study at The Ailey School this year and eager to provide you with the outstanding training of our faculty and the exceptional support of our staff. Mr. Ailey's mission was to make dance accessible to the people, a legacy which continues to drive our school. Although these days have been filled with uncertainty, we have remained optimistic and continue to take these unknowns and turn them into opportunities to learn and grow in new ways as artists and individuals. Despite the challenges we continue to face with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are committed to offering high quality training this fall with the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff as our first priority. The Ailey School is currently planning for an in-person, on-time start this fall with the understanding that travel restrictions and other government related mandates may impact our fall opening and prevent us from proceeding as planned. The schedule will include in-person classes consisting of our core curriculum of ballet, Horton, Graham-based modern, and jazz classes.  Students enrolled in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program will have additional dance academic requirements to fulfill. 

We believe it is important to remain connected in how we share ideas, inspirations, movement, and our knowledge with each other and the rest of the world. Now more than ever, we must be strong in the face of challenge and rise above the circumstances that could otherwise hinder the pursuit of our dreams. It is with true Ailey spirit that we must leap forward toward these new horizons and create safe new ways to move and dance together at The Ailey School. Above all, stay safe and healthy. We look forward to dancing together again with our Ailey School Family.

Sincerely,

Tracy Inman and Melanie Person
The Ailey School Directors

A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found on the Professional Division FAQ page of our website. These FAQs will be updated regularly as we continue to monitor the situation in New York. 

Current Student Resources

The information below are guidelines and administrative procedures for current students in the BFA Program, Certificate Program, Independent Study Program, and Scholarship Program.

Absence Notification

Please fill out the Ailey School Event Form for absences due to Ailey School approved events only. For all other absences refer to the Attendance Charts on pages 4 and 5 of the Student Handbook. To request a personal or medical leave of absence, please email your Faculty Advisor. 
Ailey School Event - Absence Notification Form

External Auditions

If you are planning to attend an external audition, you MUST meet with your advisor PRIOR to attending the audition.

Medical and Attendance

If you plan to have an absence due to medical reasons, please submit the required documentation to substantiate your absence.

Confirmation of Medical Visit

Attendance Reports

To request a copy of your Attendance Report, please fill out the request form at the link below. Students will receive an Attendance Report by email from The Ailey School Registrar within 24 hours.

Attendance Report Request Form

Usher for a performance

If you would like to volunteer to be an usher for an Ailey School Performance, please use the form below:

Usher Sign-Up Form

Studio Reservation

To reserve studio space for Ailey-related rehearsals, students should fill out the online form or download, print, and submit the application.  Please be familiar with the Student Reservation Policies prior to requesting the space.
Request Studio Space

Payment Information and Financial Aid

Tuition and fee requirements are completed through the Bursar's Office (Office Hours: Tue-Sat, 10:00 PM - 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM; Closed Sunday and Monday). Contact the Bursar at bursar@alvinailey.org or call 212-405-9519.

Credit card payments should be pre-authorized before sending in your payment. Daily limits may interfere with processing and cause late payments. Please allow three weeks for processing.

Financial Aid students:

• A current “Projection of Aid Disbursement to Show the Bursar” form must be submitted once per year to fulfill your payment requirements.
• If a disbursement is expected for your cost of living, the Bursar will contact the aid recipient directly when payment is available, usually about a month after the first day of class.

Financial Aid Office Hours & Contacts

Official Transcripts

To request an Official Transcript, students must fill out the online Transcript Request Form and pay a $15 processing. Upon receipt of payment, transcripts will be mailed within 5 business days. 

Students who prefer to pick up their Official Transcripts in-person will receive the transcript in a sealed envelope to deliver to another institution. The transcript must remain sealed in the envelope when delivered to another institution in order to be considered official.

Students that attended The Ailey School prior to 2006, should contact the Registrar directly to inquire about the availability of their student records.  The Ailey School may deny transcript requests to students with past-due balances on their record.

If you need assistance or need to request multiple transcripts at once, please e-mail registrar@alvinailey.org.

Transcript Request 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. 

2020-2021 School Year FAQs

Current School Operations

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared all but essential workers to remain at home and observe social distancing. The Ailey School is open for Professional Division classes with a limited administrative staff on site. All other School staff are working remotely and continue with all of the school's daily operations.

2021 Orientation Dates

August 29, 2021 - Ludlow Residents
Move-in to the Ludlow Residence 

Monday, August 30 - Friday September 3, 2021 - Orientation Week
Details to be announced.. Please check back to this page.  

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 - All students
First day of In-person classes
Location: 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 is not able to pick-up and transport students to and from the airport, so please 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 Google Maps and enter your starting destination as either “Grand Central Station” or “Port Authority Bus Terminal”, and one of the following addresses for your final destination:

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 Ailey School is housed in the largest building in the United States that is devoted solely to the art of dance – The Joan Weill Center for Dance. The building has 16 climate controlled studios, 2 classrooms, a student lounge, an outdoor patio, an Ailey Boutique concession and gift shop, a physical therapy room, three floors of administrative offices, and a fully-equipped black box theater that seats 275. We are located in the heart of New York City's Theater District at 405 West 55th Street, corner of 9th Ave.

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.