Weekend tip! Why Alvin Ailey has been making dance history for generations
29.09.2026
If you still have some room in your diary this week, Forest National offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the biggest names in modern dance live on stage. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater comes to Brussels from 1 to 4 October 2026 with two different programmes.
The fact that Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is returning to Brussels for the first time in more than 25 years makes these performances all the more special. Founded by choreographer Alvin Ailey in 1958, the company has grown into an international benchmark for modern dance, with African American culture and history at the heart of its artistic identity.
Alvin Ailey turned personal history into universal dance
Alvin Ailey wanted to bring stories and experiences to the stage that he felt were largely missing from the American dance world of his time. His choreography drew on modern dance, blues, gospel and spirituals, as well as memories of his childhood in Texas.
The most famous result is *Revelations*. Ailey created the work in 1960, when he was just 29 years old. More than six decades later, it remains the artistic heart of the company. Set to traditional African American spirituals, *Revelations* moves through grief, faith and hope before bursting into exuberant celebration.
Even those who have never seen the work may recognise some of its iconic imagery. The earthy tones of the opening scenes, the white costumes of the baptism sequence and the yellow fans of the jubilant finale have all become part of the company’s visual signature. *Revelations* will close the performances at Forest National on both Saturday and Sunday.
A new chapter under Alicia Graf Mack
Behind the scenes, AILEY is entering a new era too. Alicia Graf Mack has served as artistic director since July 2025, and she knows the company from the inside. Graf Mack was herself a dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before later becoming director of the Dance Division at The Juilliard School.
Her first seasons are deliberately building on the company’s dual mission: keeping Alvin Ailey’s work alive while creating space for new voices. And it is precisely that combination audiences will get to experience at Forest National this weekend.
For anyone who is relatively new to modern dance, that may be the best reason to come along. You do not need to be a dance expert to understand why *Revelations* remains part of the repertoire 66 years after its creation. And for longtime Ailey followers, the Brussels performances offer a glimpse of how the company is shaping its next chapter.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at Forest National on 1, 2, 3 and 4 October 2026.
(Photo by Paul Kolnik)
