A book that is not only a biography of a dance company, but that also contextualizes that company against the larger background of gay rights, civil rights and women’s liberation. DeFrantz uses the story of Alvin Ailey to chart the story of African Americans in 20th-century America. The book takes you deep into some of the most iconic pieces in the Ailey Company’s repertory, including “Revelations,” and traces the influences of jazz and blues that permeate Ailey’s work.
Department of African & African American Studies
