Alvin Ailey.  2011. Personal Website.  Retrieved at  12:49pm, 2011 from http://www.alvinailey.org/about

Alvin Ailey, pioneer dancer and choreographer, changed forever the perception of American modern dance.  He founded the first internationally acclaimed multi-ethnic dance company and created 89 ballets.  His choreography reflected a deep appreciation for a southern Baptist upbringing imbibed with musical elements of African American spirituals, jazz and blues. He made his Broadway debut in Truman Capote’s House of Flowers. He received the United Nations Peace Award (1982), the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award (1987), modern dance’s greatest honor, The Kennedy Center Honor (1988) for lifetime contribution to American culture through the performing arts and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Princeton University.