Page 10 The Skanner Portland & Seattle February 21, 2024
Black History Month
Alvin Ailey: Dance Pioneer
CARL VAN VECHTEN, PUBLIC DOMAIN/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Alvin Ailey emerged as a luminary in the dance world,
a visionary whose profound effect transcends the
boundaries of the stage.
The Skanner News
B
orn Jan. 5, 1931,
in Rogers, Texas,
Ailey’s
journey
from a small town
to the dazzling lights of
Broadway transformed
the landscape of modern
dance, leaving an endur-
ing legacy that continues
to captivate audiences
worldwide.
Growing up in poverty
after his father abandoned
the family and his mother
was raped, he found so-
lace and self-discovery in
dance, art and journal
writing. He eventually
moved to Los Angeles
where he was able to
explore the arts and
take gymnastics.
Under the mentor-
ship of Lester Horton,
Ailey honed his craft
and developed a unique
choreographic voice
combining many dance
styles from Native
American-inspired
styles to ballet. Hor-
ton’s dance school was
one of the first racially
integrated schools in
the U.S. When Horton
died suddenly in 1953,
Ailey took over the
company as artistic di-
rector.
Alvin
Ai-
ley
American
Dance Theater
In 1958, Ailey found-
ed the Alvin Ailey
American
Dance
Theater, a ground-
breaking
ensemble
that would become a
cultural institution,
fusing the elements of
modern dance with the
rich tapestry of Afri-
can-American cultural
expression. Ailey’s cho-
reography breathed life
into narratives inspired
by the African-American
experience, capturing
the essence of struggle,
resilience and triumph.
His work stressed in-
tersectionality even be-
fore that phrase was pop-
ular as he was also a gay
man and his work com-
bined theater, modern
dance, ballet, jazz and the
Black vernacular.
The company’s signa-
ture piece, “Revelations,”
choreographed by Ai-
ley in 1960, stands as a
testament to his genius.
An exploration of spir-
ituals and gospel mu-
sic, “Revelations” tran-
scends dance, becoming
a cultural touchstone
that reflects the indom-
itable spirit of the Afri-
can-American commu-
nity. It continues to be
a highly popular ballet
performed around the
world.
Obituary: Norman Branch
July 29, 1955 - January 31, 2024
T
dren, siblings,
oday our
e x t e n d e d
beloved
family,
and
Norman
friends,
was
Branch is
phenomenal.
resting peace-
He embraced
fully amongst
strangers, they
others
that
became a part
have gone be-
of his family.
fore him. He
An influential
has graciously
Icon to people
received
his
Norman Branch
in
Portland,
wings of gold.
Ore.
Everyone
looked up to
Words of wis-
him, he didn’t allow dom to his children were:
any confusion. Like the “Never Fold”, “Keep Your
strength of Gorilla glue, Word”, “Always Stand on
he was the adhesive of Respect”, “Do Right by
his family.
Others” and “Keep Your
A Five Star General, a Heart Right”.
Legend, and Entrepre-
Norman was a true
neur, a successful busi- example of the phrase
nessman who had a word blood, sweat and tears.
when it came to taking From hard work through-
care of business.
out the years, achieving
Mainly to his children all the goals he set for
though, he was just “Dad- himself, is what made
dy”.
him the man he became.
The love for his chil- Especially the goal of
remodeling his parents’
home, the place he grew
up in with his siblings,
and able to share with his
children.
Happier days were
spent around his close
friends known as “The
Dream Team”, fishing,
on a boat enjoying life.
One day Norman found
himself on the edge of a
fishing bank in his box-
er’s and T-shirt, with a
fishing pole in hand. He
probably caught a lot of
fish that day. (lol).
Our beloved Norman is
gone physically, but not
in our hearts. He lives
forever in our souls.
This loving father,
grandfather,
brother,
uncle, cousin, relative
and friend will be missed
dearly for Mr. Norman
Branch was one in a Zil-
lion, not a Trillion or a
Million.