Press Coverage

July 30, 2026

NJ.com - How the Alvin Ailey summer camp in Newark is turning young dancers into confident leaders

All eyes turned to Nasha Thomas as she stepped into the dance rehearsal. The room fell quiet. With a few words, the AileyCamp national director commanded the attention of dozens of students as she shared feedback with campers preparing for an upcoming performance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in early August. Thomas continued making her rounds, observing ballet, modern, West African dance and a percussion class, offering thoughtful adjustments along the way. “Stagger your positions,” she told one group. “Practice once without music. Get used to dancing without your glasses. Don’t rely on seeing every step. Tuck in loose strings. Remove rubber bands from your wrists. Be ready before the music begins.” Individually, the corrections were small. Collectively, they revealed something larger: Excellence is built through dozens of little habits.

June 1, 2026

Agree to Understand - Samantha Figgins talks Hearing Loss Journey

A journey through Hearing Loss. Host Chris Richardson sits down with Samantha Figgins, a renowned dancer from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, for a conversation to discover Samantha's journey with hearing loss, her experiences in the dance world, and her advocacy for the deaf and disabled community. Learn about her choreographic debut, her work with Beyoncé, and her insights on embracing differences. This episode is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of community.

May 8, 2026

NJ.com - His grandmother’s house music and Newark culture: The making of an Alvin Ailey dancer

Christopher Taylor still carries Newark with him every time he steps onto a stage. He remembers summers filled with booming house music, crowded park festivals and long days spent dancing in the middle of circles of cheering adults. “My grandmother was a house head,” he said, naming DJs and artists like Black Coffee and Kenny Bobien he heard at home. “I grew up with house music blasting all day.”

May 5, 2026

WPIX11 - Ailey American Dance Theater closes landmark tour with performances at NJPAC

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to New Jersey Performing Arts Center for Mother’s Day weekend tradition. The company, a longtime favorite of tri‑state audiences, returns for its 27th engagement as NJPAC’s Principal Resident Affiliate. The performances feature new works by Maija García, Fredrick Earl Mosley, Matthew Neenan and Jamar Roberts, along with the company premiere of Medhi Walerski’s “Blink of an Eye.” Each program closes with Alvin Ailey’s acclaimed 1960 masterpiece “Revelations.”

April 24, 2026

WVON - Interview with Renaldo Maurice

The Cleopatra Show’s host, Cleopatra Draper, speaks with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Renaldo Maurice about his journey in the performing arts and the Company’s engagement in Chicago.

April 23, 2026

ABC7 - Alvin Ailey dancers help expose Chicago students to the arts

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater helped expose Chicago students to the arts at the Auditorium in the Loop. With philanthropic giving dwindling and federal grants cut, Chicago schools and those across the country are struggling to find the arts. On Thursday, hundreds of Chicago students saw a performance in-person and got a glimpse of possible careers in the arts, as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returned to the city. The mini performance at the Auditorium was much more interactive than a traditional performance. Nearly 1,500 Chicago students were asked to help cue lights and sets, and students rehearsed a few moves.

April 23, 2026

Chicago News Weekly - The Architecture of Movement: A Conversation with Alicia Graf Mack and Isaiah Day

In the world of dance, communication often transcends the spoken word. It exists in the breath between steps and the intentionality of a gesture. I recently had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with two individuals who have mastered this silent language: Alicia Graf Mack, Artistic Director and Isaiah Day, Principal dancer.

April 22, 2026

WGN9 - Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Returns to Chicago to Debut New Works

WGN: Daytime Chicago’s Hosts, Tonya Francisco and Amy Rutledge sit down with Associate Director, Matthew Rushing, to talk about the upcoming engagement in Chicago at The Auditorium from April 24 – 26. Along with the interview, company members, Alisha Rena Peek and Renaldo Maurice performed an excerpt of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations and an excerpt of Frederick Earl Mosley’s Embrace.

April 22, 2026

Bay State Banner - Ailey brings two world premieres to Boston

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater arrives in Boston April 30 for its annual visit, its 58th hosted by Vivo Performing Arts (formerly Celebrity Series of Boston) and its first with Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, the fourth artist to hold this role since the company was founded 70 years ago by Alvin Ailey (1931-1989). This year’s tour presents two world premieres: “The Holy Blues” (2025), created by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar with Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro; and “Difference Between” (2025), by Boston-born and Boston Ballet School-trained choreographer Matthew Neenan. The company will perform two programs over four days and conclude each performance with Ailey’s signature masterpiece “Revelations,” an anthem to resilience and joy.

April 21, 2026

WISN - Interview with Constance Stamatiou

WISN’s anchor, Gerron Jordan, sits down with Constance Stamatiou to talk about the history of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the company’s tour stop in Milwaukee at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.

Dancers