“The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has not only persevered for five decades, it has thrived, becoming an internationally known, blue-chip arts institution that manages to attract dance devotees and people with only a passing interest in the field alike. Since its debut in 1958, it has grown from eight to 35 dancers and performed for an estimated 21 million people in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents — accomplishments that few if any other modern- dance troupes can claim.”