Chair Williams on Ailey's company, Revelations, and the legacies of both artists
Chair Williams continues her remarks, describing how de Lavallade and Ailey moved to New York to dance on Broadway, Ailey's founding of his own company, his choreography of roles for de Lavallade including in Revelations, and their long and brilliant careers. She thanks committee staff before calling the roll.
When Mr.
Ailey started his own tiny dance company, he choreographed roles for his favorite partner, including an iconic role for her in his signature ballet of 1960, Revelations.
I love Revelations.
Revelations is the story of what Mr.
Earley called his blood memories.
Other words, his memories of growing up in a small town of Rogers, Texas, where he watched workers picking cotton and where he attended church with his beloved mother on Sundays.
Set to traditional spirituals, Revelations is also the story of the trials and tribulations, as well as the joys of the African-American experience.
Both Mr.
Lavallade and Mr.
Ailey had long and brilliant careers, dancing and choreographing across the world for many prestigious companies, including Mr.
Ailey's own company, and winning honor after honor.
Their artistic legacies will never be forgotten here in New York City, which they made their home.
I would like to thank my staff and committee staff who worked on preparing for today, including Alejandro, the committee's counsel who drafted the bill, and Regina Paul, the committee's senior policy analyst who drafted four of the resolutions.
And with that, I will ask the clerk to call the roll.