New Directors at The Ailey School

I guess this was announced a few weeks ago but somehow I missed it with all this surgery business and being out of town.

"The Ailey organization announced that Tracy Inman and Melanie Person have been named Co-Directors of The Ailey School. Since the passing of Denise Jefferson, the beloved long-time Director of The Ailey School, Inman and Person have served as Acting Co-Directors. Both have long-standing careers with the Ailey organization and have previously been Co-Directors of The Junior Division and Associate Directors of The Ailey School."

(When I'm healthy) I spend a LOT of time each week at The Ailey Studios taking class - but mostly in the Extension Program. It was a real shame to have Ms. Jefferson pass away this summer. She would sometimes come in to morning class to take barre with our open class, and she always had a smile. She was a huge part of the Ailey Organization and it will be interesting to see how the new co-directors take over.

It's obviously a time of great transition at Ailey, with Ms. Jamison leaving next year as Artistic Director of the main company. It sounds like we'll be in good hands all around though!

First White House Dance Event

Really sorry I missed the live stream of this (couldn't they have let me watch in the hospital yesterday? Haha). Dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and The Washington Ballet performed at The White House hosted by Michelle Obama.

This must've been so exciting for all who danced. Last winter just around Christmas week the Obamas had a small group of Rockettes perform for them privately and it was SO thrilling for our entire show! It was a first for them. I was a little disappointed they didn't want a ballerina bear to grace their presence, too. Haha!

It's nice that they honored Judith Jamison. Because I'm always taking class at Ailey I see her in passing on occasion and she is so statuesque. Actually the day I went to the Ailey PR office to see my Times article for the first time in print I ran into her, literally. I look like a student in the school and I was on the office floor where they're not allowed so she was like, "What are you doing up here?" but friendly. I explained who I was there to see and she let me in. Haha that's my big Judith Jamison story. It was the icing on the cake at the time.

Watch the archived video above :)

Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy, take from here