<I>Alvin Ailey: Memories and Visions</I>
date: label: Date
content: 1974
name: label: Directed by
content: Stan Lathan, American, born 1945
label: Subject of
content: Alvin Ailey, American, 1931 - 1989
label: Subject of
content: Judith Ann Jamison, American, 1943 - 2024
label: Subject of
content: Mary Lou Williams, American, 1910 - 1981
label: Subject of
content: Dudley Williams, American, 1938 - 2015
label: Owned by
content: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
notes: label: Caption
content: This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
label: Description
content: A film with the title Alvin Ailey: Memories and Visions. It consists of two (2) reels of color 16mm polyester film. The film features dance recitals choreographed by Alvin Ailey complimented by voiceover narration by Ailey himself. The performances featured in the film include "Blues Suite,” “The Lark Ascending," "Cry," "Mary Lou's Mass," "A Song for You," "Hidden Rites," and “Revelations."
label: Description
content: The first recital features excerpts from Ailey's first dance, "Blues Suite." He walks between the dancers on set as voiceover narration describes the influence of his black roots and blues music on his work. The second piece, a ballet called “The Lark Ascending," Ailey describes as being inspired by an eponymous musical work by Ralph Vaughn Williams. It features excerpts from two performances: a solo and a duet by Sara Yarborough and Clive Thompson. The third performance, "Mary Lou Mass," begins with a conversation between Ailey and jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams. Some of the dancers in this excerpt are dressed in religious garb.
label: Description
content: Reel two (2) begins with a female solo performance followed by another solo performance by Dudley Williams. The next performance, "Hidden Rites," Ailey describes as a battle of the sexes. It consists of two duets, the first of which is performed by Judith Jamison and John Parks. The second performance in the piece is performed by Tina Yuan and Clive Thompson. Another piece, "Revelations" is performed by a troop of both male and female dancers wearing white costumes, set to African American spirituals.
place: label: Place used
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Ballet
label: Topic
content: Dance
label: Topic
content: Documentary films
label: Topic
content: Film
label: Topic
content: Jazz (Music)
label: Topic
content: Modern dance
label: Topic
content: Music
label: Topic
content: Public television
label: Topic
content: Spirituals (Music)
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: DC Public Library Film Collection
label: Classification
content: Time-based Media - Moving Images
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2017.55.99.1ab
objectType: label: Type
content: sound films
label: Type
content: color films (visual works)
label: Type
content: feature films
label: Type
content: 16mm (photographic film size)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: polyester film
label: Dimensions
content: Duration (Reel 1): 25 Minutes
label: Dimensions
content: Length (Film): 900 Feet
label: Dimensions
content: Duration (Reel 2): 28 Minutes
label: Dimensions
content: Length (Film): 1000 Feet