Ailey Forward
Safety Plan for re-opening the Joan Weill Center for Dance

We are pleased to share Ailey Forward, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation's Safety Plan to reopen The Joan Weill Center for Dance in compliance with Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Safety Guidelines as outlined in New York Forward.

Ailey Forward

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Dear Ailey School Parents,

We hope that you and your families have remained safe throughout the summer. As the start of the 2020-2021 academic year quickly approaches, unfortunately the COVID-19 outbreak has not abated. Leadership within the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation has given careful consideration as to how the organization can safely, effectively and efficiently continue to offer quality educational programming. Upon reopening later this month, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, home to The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Ailey Arts-In-Education and Community Programs, The Ailey Extension and The Ailey School’s Professional Division, Ailey/PPAS and Junior Division programs, will operate quite differently. Administrative staff will continue to work remotely. Staff and public access to the building will be kept to as low capacity as possible in compliance with New York State’s mandated guidelines for reopening facilities, businesses, and organizations such as the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.

At this time, it has been determined that the program offering for The Ailey School Junior Division Program will be limited to Pre-Professional Program students who have been recommended for placement in Level IV, Level V, and Level VI/VII only. In the past, our offering has been able to accommodate enrollment in four sections of Level IV. This year Level IV will be limited to two sections only. Additional registration information including class schedules will be available no later than August 19th.

Classes for the following programs and levels within the Junior Division will not be held for the 2020-2021 Academic Year:

• The First Steps and Bounding Boys Creative Movement Program
• The Ailey Athletic Boys Program (Levels A, B, C and Level 3)
• Pre-Professional Program Levels I, II, III and a portion of Level IV

During these unprecedented times, we wish to thank you for your support and commitment to training at The Ailey School throughout the years. Families who have a remaining credit on their accounts will receive an e-mail directly from our bursar regarding payment options or options for refunds within a week. For more information visit our COVID FAQs and select COVID-19 – Junior Division 2020-2021 School Year FAQs . All other questions may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

We will remain in touch with updates should opportunities to expand the Junior Division program offering arise prior to September 2021 and look forward to welcoming you and your children back to Junior Division classes in what we hope will be the near future.

Sincerely,

Melanie Person and Tracy Inman
Directors of The Ailey School

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The Junior Division Virtual Training Program

In response to the lingering public health challenges and conditions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ailey School has chosen to transition to a Flexible Hybrid Learning Environment (FHLE) for instructional delivery. As such, classes will be offered according to a hybrid schedule of both online classes and in-person classes held at The Ailey Studios. 

In keeping with Alvin Ailey’s visionary philosophy of training versatile dancers, The Junior Division Virtual Training Program offers curriculum based Pre-Professional training for students ages 13 to 17 taught by The Ailey School’s most experienced and distinguished faculty and company alumni. 

The program offers a graded-level curriculum of classical ballet, modern techniques including Horton and Limon; along with Jazz and Contemporary. Students will receive individualized feedback and personal advisement.  Students recommended for placement in Levels IV, V, and VI/VII are eligible to enroll.

Weekday classes will be held online and Saturday classes will take place in-studio.For more information email juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

Current parents and students click here for updated program announcements and information.

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Absences

Students in the Junior Division Program are permitted three absences per semester. Please fill out the appropriate Absence Notification Form below prior to the date of the absences and no later than within 48 hours of the class(es) missed. If you have any questions, please email juniordivision@alvinailey.org.

First Steps & Bounding Boys Absence

Pre-Professional (Levels I-VII & AABD) Absence

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Preferred Dancewear of The Ailey School

Use code VEBZMG to order your dancewear online 
and BLOCH will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Ailey School.