Alvin Ailey was one of the most influential choreographers and dancers of the 20th century. He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a multi-racial modern dance company that popularized modern dance around the world. He also created some of the most celebrated works in the history of dance, such as Revelations, a masterpiece that expressed the joy and sorrow of the African-American experience.
But behind his artistic brilliance and success, Ailey was hiding a painful secret: he was HIV-positive and suffering from AIDS-related complications. He kept his illness a secret from the public and even from his closest friends and family, fearing the stigma and discrimination that surrounded the disease at the time. He died on December 1, 1989, at the age of 58, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and courage.
How Ailey Contracted HIV
Ailey was a gay man who lived in a time when homosexuality was considered a taboo and a crime in many parts of the world. He had to conceal his sexual orientation from society and face the challenges of being a Black artist in a predominantly white field. He also had to cope with the trauma of his childhood, when he witnessed his mother being raped by white men and experienced racism and poverty in the segregated South.
According to Biography, Ailey sought comfort and escape in sex, drugs, and alcohol. He had multiple sexual partners, some of whom were also infected with HIV. He also experimented with heroin and cocaine, which increased his risk of exposure to the virus. He contracted HIV sometime in the early 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic was spreading rapidly among gay men and injecting drug users.
How Ailey Hid His Illness
Ailey was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, according to The New York Times. However, he did not disclose his status to anyone, except for his doctor and his lawyer. He was afraid of losing his reputation, his career, and his dignity if he revealed his condition. He was also concerned about the impact of his illness on his mother, who was still alive at the time.
Ailey continued to work as a choreographer and director until 1988, when he became too weak to travel or perform. He resigned from his position as artistic director of his company and appointed Judith Jamison, one of his star dancers, as his successor. He also made arrangements for his will and his funeral.
He spent his last months in Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where he received treatment for blood dyscrasia, a disorder that affects the blood cells. He died on December 1, 1989, surrounded by a few friends. His cause of death was announced as blood dyscrasia, without mentioning AIDS.
How Ailey’s Legacy Lives On
Ailey’s death shocked and saddened the dance world and his fans. Many people did not know that he was sick or that he had AIDS. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where thousands of people gathered to pay their respects. His ashes were scattered over the Hudson River.
Ailey’s legacy lives on through his dance company, which continues to perform his works and new creations by other choreographers. The company has been recognized as a “vital American cultural ambassador to the world” by the U.S. Congress and has received numerous awards and honors for its artistic excellence and social relevance.
Ailey’s life and work have also inspired many books, documentaries, films, and exhibitions that celebrate his vision and contribution to dance and culture. His story has also raised awareness and compassion for people living with HIV/AIDS and their struggles.
Ailey once said: “Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.” He achieved this goal by creating dances that spoke to the human spirit and touched millions of hearts across the world.
