(1931–89), U.S. modern dancer and choreographer. Born on Jan. 5, 1931, in Rogers, Tex., Ailey helped to establish modern dance as a popular art form in the United States, both as an exceptional dancer and as a creative choreographer. His choreography combined Lester Horton, ethnic African, and Afro-Caribbean techniques. In 1958, he founded his own dance company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, that showcased the work of other African American choreographers as well as his own choreographic masterpieces, including ‘Blue Suite' (1958), ‘Revelations' (1960), ‘Quintet' (1968), ‘Masekela Language' (1969), ‘Cry' (1971), and ‘The Lark Ascending' (1972). Ailey received the Spingarn Medal in 1977. (See also Dance.)