Professional Division Resources
COVID-19 Announcements
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
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.
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:
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.
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.
COVID-19 Announcements
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.
Orientation Dates
August 17, 2020 - Ludlow Residents
Early Move-in to the Ludlow Residence for students who need to quarantine
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - All students
Mandatory Safety Education Meeting
Time: 10:30am (Eastern Standard Time)
Location: Virtual
Thursday, August 20, 2020 - All students
Welcome Back Orientation meeting with School Staff
Time: 10:00am (Eastern Standard Time)
Location: Virtual
Thursday, August 20, 2020 - Ailey/Fordham BFA students
- BFA Sophomore Class Meeting - 12:00pm (EST)
- BFA Junior Class Meeting - 1:15pm (EST)
- BFA Senior Class Meeting - 2:30pm (EST)
- BFA New Student Orientation - 4:00pm (EST)
Times: all times listed are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Locations: Virtual
Sunday, August 16 - Saturday, August 29 - - Ludlow Residents
Early move-in for students who need to quarantine
Sunday, August 30, 2020 - Ludlow Residents
Move-in for non-quarantine students
Monday, August 31, 2020 - 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.
General FAQs
Students who wish to enroll in the Scholarship Program, Certificate Program, Independent Study Program, or Summer Intensive must attend an audition at The Ailey School or at one of our national audition sites as listed on our annual audition itinerary. Independent Study Program and Summer Intensive applicants have the option of auditioning by video.
Students who wish to apply to the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program should refer to the Admissions section of the BFA Program page.
No. An in-person audition is required of all students who wish to be considered for acceptance to the Certificate Program or Scholarship Program.
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 may sign up by locating your audition city on the audition calendar and paying the audition fee online.
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.