My lasting impression of Truman Capote is that he was a terribly gentle, terribly sensitive, and terribly sad man.

About Alvin Ailey

Alvin Ailey Jr.was an American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT).

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More quotes from Alvin Ailey

If you live in the elite world of dance, you find yourself in a world rife with racism. Let’s face it.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off; it’s with you all the time.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

No matter what you write or choreograph, you feel it’s not enough.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Sometimes you feel bad about yourself when there’s no reason to.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

I am trying to show the world that we are all human beings and that color is not important. What is important is the quality of our work.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Money is a never-ending problem.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Lena Horne is the sweetest and most adorable woman in the world.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Nothing personal; I just don’t have people over.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

I always want more.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Racism tears down your insides so that no matter what you achieve, you’re not quite up to snuff.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

My feelings about myself have been terrible.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

I’m attracted to long-legged girls with long arms and a little head.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

One of the processes of your life is to constantly break down that inferiority, to constantly reaffirm that I Am Somebody.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

It will take very sophisticated marketing to achieve our aim of bringing more black people into the theater.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

Choreography is mentally draining, but there’s a pleasure in getting into the studio with the dancers and the music.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

In this business, life is one long fund-raising effort.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

My lasting impression of Truman Capote is that he was a terribly gentle, terribly sensitive, and terribly sad man.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

I always want to have more dancers in my company.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

One of the worst things about racism is what it does to young people.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist

We still spend more time chasing funds than we do in the studio in creative work.

Alvin Ailey

African-American dancer, choreographer and activist