Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Allan Gray is the founder of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and the custodian of Alvin Ailey's notebooks (alongside the Black Archives of Mid-America). Allan spoke with us about his long-time friendship and collaboration with Alvin Ailey. He discusses having "dream sessions" with Alvin at 3:00 in the morning from across the world, how Alvin Ailey was both an artistic genius and a Civil Rights leader, and how he began to realize that Alvin was planting the seeds for Allan to continue building the Alvin Ailey legacy.

We are thrilled to share a powerful project, Alvin Ailey and Me, that celebrates the enduring legacy and influence of iconic dancer, choreographer, and artist Alvin Ailey. Alvin Ailey and Me asks members of the public to share personal stories of how Alvin Ailey’s life and work has impacted, inspired, and changed them. We invite you to participate in the project by submitting a digital letter online through whitney.org/AlvinAileyandMe: whitney.org/alvinaileyandme

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