As of January 17, 2023, proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter the Joan Weill Center for Dance. However, because the dance studio environment involves close contact, physical exertion, and perspiration, we strongly recommend that students continue to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, as well as maintaining an annual flu vaccine. 
Please note: proof of vaccination may be required in certain high risk situations.

Health & Safety Protocols are subject to change without notice.

As of May 1, 2023: Student's residing at McMahon Hall or the Ludlow Residence are no longer required to submit proof of vaccination and booster shot for COVID-19. However, because communal dormitory living involves close contact we strongly recommend that students continue to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, as well as maintaining an annual flu vaccine.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we advise you complete a PCR test to eliminate the concern that you may be positive. Please remain home while waiting for your results and send them to Ailey Forward for review. After review, the Safety Task Force will provide you with instructions on how to move forward.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include, but are not limited to the following:    

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose 
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea 

Students can get a COVID-19 test at many local pharmacies, or at one of the sites listed below. Valid Health Insurance may be required at some testing sites.

NYC Health and HospitalsFree tests available.

NYC Health Express Testing - Free tests available

LABQ 24-hr PCR results

CareCube Same Day PCR results

Mount Sinai Hospital Urgent Care

NYC.gov - testing sites

Mobile Testing Sites

Regardless of your vaccination status, anyone who tests positive must do the following:  

• Send an email immediately to aileyforward@alvinailey.org to inform us of your positive test result. Students who reside at the Ludlow Residence should also send an email to student-covid-alert@sva.edu.

• Isolate yourself at home for 5 days. 

• If you have been fever-free for 24 hours and have no symptoms, or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house. If you still have a fever or your symptoms are not resolving, you are required to remain in isolation until your fever resolves. 

• All those who test positive, as well as those who have been in direct contact with a someone who tested positive, will receive communication from The Ailey School further instructions.  

• All those who reside at the Ludlow Residence will receive communication and instructions from the Ludlow Health Services.

• If you have been cleared by The Ailey School to exit isolation and return to the Ailey building after 5 days of isolation, you will be required to double mask (2 layers of mask protection) for 5 additional days.   

For vaccinated + boosted (those who completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 5 months or J & J in the last 2 months + a third additional shot)

• You do NOT need to quarantine. Wear a mask when in public and monitor your symptoms. If you have no symptoms, get tested between day 3-5 after exposure (day of exposure is day 0). If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate yourself until you get your results. If you test positive, see I’ve tested positive for Covid-19.

Vaccinated, but not boosted (completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than 5 months ago or J & J more than 2 months who is not eligible for third shot or who hasn’t received it)

• Separate yourself from the individual that tested positive and quarantine for 5 days from the last day of exposure to the individual. If you remain asymptomatic you may exit quarantine to get tested on day 5 but continue wear a mask around other for 5 more days. If your test is positive, see FAQ What Happens if I Test Positive for Covid-19?
• If you cannot separate yourself from the positive individual (i.e you are the caregiver), then stay home with the infected individual for the duration of their isolation and begin your 5-day quarantine at the end of their isolation.   

You may test positive up to 90 days after experiencing Covid. Submit official documentation and/or a doctor’s note of your positive test result to Ailey Forward. The doctor’s note should include your name, the date of your positive test result, and a statement that have fully recovered.

Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

• Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
• Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.

• Stay home and away from other people for at least 5 days (day 0 is the date of your exposure). Wear a well-fitting mask when around others at home, if possible.
• If possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for severe disease or for getting very sick from COVID-19, as well as others outside your home throughout the full 10 days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• Do not travel during your 5-day quarantine period. It is best to wait until day 11 before traveling. If you must travel before the 10-days are completed, wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during.
• Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask, such as restaurants and some gyms, and avoid eating around others at home and at work until after 10-days after your last close contact with someone with COVID-19.

• If you tested positive, the day of your positive test result, or the day of your first symptom is day 0.
  • Symptomatic case: You developed a cough on Saturday, June 4^th. You received a Covid test on June 5^th and your results came back positive on June 7^th. Your day 0 is June 4^th and day 5 is June 9^th. You may exit isolation on Day 6, June 10^th.
  • Asymptomatic case: You have no symptoms, but you received a covid test on June 5^th and your results came back positive on June 7^th. Your day 0 for monitoring symptoms starts June 5^th and your recommended testing window is between June 8^th-10^th.
  • Exposure case: Please see FAQ I have been in contact with someone who tested positive. What should I do?

Starting March 1, 2023, the Joan Weill Center for Dance will be a mask-optional environment. While masks will still be encouraged, they will not be mandatory for students, faculty, musicians and staff of The Ailey School

Note: A masking policy will remain in effect for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II dancers and crew, and anyone working in direct contact with these individuals.

The mask policy at Ailey is continually under review and is guided by the level of community outbreak in New York City. All Health & Safety Protocols are subject to change. 

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.

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

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 when circulating in crowded environments in New York, such as the the subway, in theaters, or anywhere else you wish to have extra protection.
• 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.

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>
What to do if you feel sick>

The Ailey School is closely monitoring the pandemic and safety protocols continue to be in place throughout the 2022-2023 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.

There are no more than 20-25 students in each class.  

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.

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. 

Once a student schedule is made, 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 (PT) appointments will take place in person. Students and PT’s must be masked at all times. Please refer to the Physical Therapy section of your Student Handbook for instructions on how to make a PT appointment.

As of this writing, live performances in the Ailey Citigroup Theater are being planned. However, due to the changing nature of the pandemic, live performances are subject to change.  Virtual performances may be scheduled to replace live performances. Please visit the Performance Calendar for a list of scheduled performances.

School Administrative Staff and Faculty Advisors are available by email. Students should send an email to schedule an appointment. Email addresses can be found on the Administrative Staff listing.

All Faculty Advisement meetings will take place via Zoom and will be recorded.

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 currently available. As International students must document that they have sufficient funding prior to entering the U.S., they should be financially solvent throughout their enrollment without the assistance of on-campus employment.

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 and are accessible on in the event of an emergency. 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.

Students may congregate in the outdoor patio, located next to Studio 1B on the ground floor. 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 full-time Professional Division Programs or the Summer Intensive may audition in person or by submitting 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.

An in-person audition is required 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 Auditions page of the web site.
Note: 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 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 Auditions 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 to determine if all program requirements have been successfully met.   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.  Note: The Ailey School Co-Director has final approval of a student's request to apply for 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.