Ailey Dancers Return to Central Texas

Ailey II returned to Temple to perform to a sold-out audience at the Azalee Marshall Cultural Activities Center. Ailey, a native of Rogers and founder of the company, created the Ailey II group to give young people the opportunity to perform while traveling across the country. Ms. Sylvia Waters, Artistic Director, and Troy Powell, Associate Artistic Director both were appointed to the company by Alvin Ailey before 1989 and were present at the performance on January 20 at the CAC. Many program sponsors enjoyed meeting Sylvia Waters in a pre-performance reception and hearing her speak of her passion for dance and what it means to be part of Ailey II. A few of the Ailey dancers also instructed a master class at the Killeen Community Center on Monday with Ballet Renee participating and Greater Vision Community Church offering a performance for the Ailey Dancers. During their time in Central Texas the Ailey Dancers traveled to Rogers Texas, Alvin Ailey's birth place to see the church Ailey grew up in and also travel down the street named after Alvin Ailey.