Alicia Graf Mack Appointed Artistic Director of Ailey

The Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation today announced that Alicia Graf Mack, widely celebrated for her dance artistry during her years with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and for her leadership as the Dean and Director of the Dance Division of The Juilliard School, has been appointed Artistic Director of AILEY. She becomes the fourth Artistic Director in AILEY’s 66-year history, following Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison (herself a renowned star of the Company), and Robert Battle. Ms. Graf Mack will assume her role with AILEY as of July 1, 2025.

News of Ms. Graf Mack’s appointment follows shortly after the death at age 81 of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, who brought Alicia Graf Mack into Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and championed her work. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2024-25 season, which begins on December 4, celebrates the life and legacy of Ms. Jamison.

Daria L. Wallach, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, said, “Living heritage is central to the artistic achievement of Alvin Ailey, and it is just as integral to AILEY as an organization. As we pass the artistic leadership of AILEY to Alicia Graf Mack, who was introduced to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under Judith Jamison’s direction, performed under the leadership of Robert Battle, and electrified the Company’s audiences around the nation and the world, we honor and celebrate the legacy that goes back to Mr. Ailey himself. We know that this powerful continuity across the generations, combined with Ms. Graf Mack’s outstanding talents as a dance artist, educator, administrator, and communicator, will ensure that both the traditions and the innovation of AILEY remain strong for years to come.”

Anthony A. Lewis, Board member and head of the selection committee, said, “Out of the many gifted and highly qualified candidates we reviewed as part of an extensive search process, Alicia Graf Mack rose to become our clear-cut choice. Her record of success at The Juilliard School, her profound connection with AILEY, and the intangible personal and professional qualities she possesses make her an exceptional leader. We are convinced that she is the Artistic Director for AILEY’s future.”

Alicia Graf Mack said, “It’s the honor of a lifetime to step into this role and continue the legacy of Alvin Ailey—a legacy rooted in celebrating the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. I am committed to preserving the company’s rich heritage while boldly exploring new voices and perspectives that push the boundaries of dance and reflect the world we live in today, and the world we hope to see. I am deeply grateful to AILEY’s Board for placing its trust in me, and am particularly mindful at this moment of the abiding influence of Judith Jamison, who brought me into this extraordinary organization and will forever be an inspiration to me and present in all of us. To all the dancers who have embodied Mr. Ailey’s vision, to Robert Battle, and to the artistic team including the wonderful Matthew Rushing, who have carried AILEY into the present as such a vibrant and indispensable artistic force, I offer my profound thanks. I will give my all to live up to this great responsibility, in service to the Company, our many supporters, our beloved audiences, and the entire AILEY community everywhere.” 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s annual five-week holiday engagement at New York City Center from December 4 through January 5 has been prepared by Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing. This year’s Opening Night Gala, honoring legendary dance educator Jody Gottfried Arnhold, will feature the return of Ronald K. Brown’s Grace on its 25th anniversary, with live music by Tony® and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Leslie Odom, Jr. with composer, visual artist, and GRAMMY® Award-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant. The finale of Mr. Ailey's Cry will also be performed, to pay tribute to Judith Jamison, who originated the role and ignited the ballet with her unparalleled grace and power. Celebrating the life and legacy of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison, the season will showcase the world premieres of Sacred Songs by Matthew Rushing, Finding Free by Hope Boykin, Many Angels by Lar Lubovitch (his first world premiere for the Company), and Al-Andalus Blues by Jamar Roberts, as well as a new production of Elisa Monte’s Treading and a generous selection of classic repertoire by Alvin Ailey and live music performances.

Bennett Rink, Executive Director of AILEY, said, “Carrying forward into a new generation the bold vision of our founder, Alvin Ailey, and building upon the major achievements of Judith Jamison and Robert Battle in developing our organization, Alicia Graf Mack will place the unique stamp of her own leadership on AILEY while remaining true to our heritage. Knowing the great respect she has for Mr. Ailey’s legacy and her comprehensive understanding of the multiple artistic, educational, and social roles that the AILEY organization plays in the world, I look forward with the greatest enthusiasm to working with her as AILEY takes its next steps into an exciting future.”

As Artistic Director, Alicia Graf Mack will oversee the artistic program of the entire AILEY organization, which includes Ailey II, The Ailey School, Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, and Ailey Extension. Alvin Ailey said, “Dance is for everybody. I believe that dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.” Today, AILEY is one of the world’s leading modern dance companies and a global ambassador of American culture, deftly weaving performance, education, and community programming together to celebrate the human spirit and inspire, enlighten, and unite people of all backgrounds. AILEY is currently partnering with the Whitney Museum of American Art to present Edges of Ailey (through February 9, 2025), the first large-scale exhibition to celebrate the life, creativity, influence, and enduring legacy of Alvin Ailey. For more info, visit www.ailey.org.   

About Alicia Graf Mack
Alicia Graf Mack starred as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2014 and now returns to serve as AILEY’s fourth Artistic Director. She comes to AILEY from The Juilliard School, where she has been the Dean and Director of the Dance Division since 2018.

Born in San Jose, California, Alicia Graf Mack grew up in Columbia, Maryland, was offered an apprenticeship at Dance Theatre of Harlem by Arthur Mitchell while in high school, and relocated to New York City at age 17 to join the company. During a hiatus from Dance Theatre of Harlem, she earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in history from Columbia University School of General Studies, then rejoined DTH until the company was temporarily disbanded in 2004. She also holds an MA in nonprofit management from Washington University in St. Louis.

In addition to dancing with DTH and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she has been a principal dancer with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and has danced as a guest performer with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Beyoncé, John Legend, Andre 3000, and Alicia Keys. She performed in honor of Carmen de Lavallade at the Kennedy Center Honors 2018 and was also invited to perform in the memorial services of Arthur Mitchell at Riverside Church in New York City and Jessye Norman at the Metropolitan Opera.

In 2007, Smithsonian magazine named her an American Innovator of the Arts and Sciences. She is a recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year to an alumnus who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work, and in 2008 delivered the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University’s School of General Studies. She is the recipient of the 2023 Dance Magazine Award.

Before assuming leadership of the Dance Division of Juilliard, she co-founded D(n)A Arts Collective, an initiative created with her sister to enrich the lives of young dancers through master classes and intensives, taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Houston, and served as a visiting assistant professor at Webster University.

Ms. Graf Mack serves on the Boards of Columbia University School of General Studies and Camille A. Brown and Dancers. In addition, she volunteers her time and talent to the summer intensive of the Art Saves Lives Foundation in St. Maarten. She is the co-producer and host of the podcast Moving Moments, featuring conversations with some of the most celebrated and ground-breaking artists in the field of dance. 

About AILEY
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by US Congressional resolution as a “vital American Cultural Ambassador to the World,” grew from a now-fabled March 1958 performance in New York that changed forever the perception of American dance. Forged during a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, the Company was established to uplift the African American experience while transcending boundaries of race, faith, and nationality with its universal humanity. Before his untimely death in 1989, Mr. Ailey named Judith Jamison as his successor, and for 21 years she brought the Company to unprecedented success. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on six continents, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. In addition to being the principal dance company of New York City Center, where its performances have become a year-end tradition, the Company performs annually at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC; the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago; The Fox Theatre in Atlanta; Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, CA; and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark (where it is the Principal Resident Affiliate), and appears frequently in other major theaters throughout the world during extensive tours. AILEY also includes Ailey II, a second performing company of emerging young dancers and innovative choreographers; The Ailey School, one of the most extensive dance training programs in the world; Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs, which brings dance into the classrooms, communities, and lives of people of all ages; and Ailey Extension, a program offering dance and fitness classes to the general public, which began with the opening of AILEY’s permanent home, The Joan Weill Center for Dance—the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City—at 55th Street at 9th Avenue in New York City. For more information, visit www.ailey.org.

LaTosha Brown a winner in the Human & Civil Rights category for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards

LaTosha Brown, a dynamic force, igniting social change and empowering communities worldwide, has been named a Winner in the Human & Civil Rights: Team & Internal Initiatives category as a "Nonprofit Leader and Disruptor" by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for the 4th Annual Anthem Awards!

"I am beyond grateful and humbled to be named a Silver Award Winner at the 2024 Anthem Awards," says LaTosha. "This recognition is not just for me, but for the countless Black girls and women whose stories fuel this movement. It reaffirms our collective power and the resilience of our communities. As we continue to push for equity and justice, this award strengthens my resolve to create the space and resources needed for Black women and girls to thrive. Our work is far from over, and I'm more committed than ever to building a future where our voices are heard, our dreams are realized, and our legacies are honored."

As the visionary founder of the Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium (Southern Black Girls), and the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, LaTosha is a thought leader, institution builder and cultural activist who stands at the intersection of social justice, political empowerment, human development, and the arts. Her Anthem designation highlights her impact as a "Nonprofit Leader and Disruptor" in grant-making and increasing power in marginalized and predominantly Black communities.

"The Winners of this year's Anthem Awards are truly inspiring and I am honored to help elevate their impact," said Anthem Awards General Manager, Patricia McLoughlin. "At this moment, there is a lot of uncertainty in our world, but the tireless and extraordinary efforts of the Anthem Awards community provide hope that a better tomorrow is possible. Thank you to everyone doing this work and making an impact."

The 4th Annual Anthem Awards was the most competitive season yet with more than 2,300 entries submitted from 34 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities.

For more information on LaTosha Brown, visit www.LatoshaBrown.com. To follow the impact of her work and influence visit www.SouthernBlackGirls.org and www.BlackVotersMatterFund.org.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM

The Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium (Southern Black Girls) is a collective of Black women in philanthropy, activism and girls' work, who hold deep roots in movement-building — LaTosha Brown (TruthSpeaks Innovation Foundation), Felecia Lucky (BlackBelt Community Foundation), and Alice Jenkins (Fund for Southern Communities). Established in 2017, Southern Black Girls has become a disruptor in grant-making and is positioned as a catalyst to fundraise and provide greater resources toward underfunded organizations that, intentionally, support and empower Black girls and women in the south. The collective leads alongside a diverse array of grassroots and advocacy partners who are dedicated to the mission and actively engaging in this work across the region. For more information, visit: www.southernblackgirls.org, or follow @SouthernBlackGirls on Facebook and Instagram, and @BlackGirlsDream on X.

ABOUT THE ANTHEM AWARDS

Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, we're defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their own communities. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity; Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. This season's partners include Ms. Magazine, The Female Quotient, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, and TheFutureParty. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ. Find The Anthem Awards online at www.anthemawards.com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

CNN Films’ Luther: Never Too Much Special New Year’s Day Premiere at 8pm ET/PT on CNN

CNN Films examines the captivating story of the iconic Luther Vandross as he paves his own course to become one of the most decorated and influential artists of all time in Luther: Never Too Much. From award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter (CNN Films’ John Lewis: Good Trouble) and produced by Raindog Films and Foxxhole Productions for Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing, in association with Trilogy Films, the film will premiere on January 1, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT on CNN.

Luther: Never Too Much chronicles the story of Vandross from his formative years in Harlem, appearing in the Apollo Theater house band and the first episodes of Sesame Street, through his ascendance to become the indisputable master of the love song. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Vandross tells his own story along with the voices of his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack. The film unpacks the nuances and ironies of Vandross’ storied career, exploring his personal life, health struggles, and a lifelong desire to be respected and understood.

“It was thrilling to explore Luther’s musical genius while making this film,” said director Dawn Porter. “We combed through hundreds of hours of interviews, concert footage and images to develop this one-of-a-kind portrait.” Porter added “I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to tell this story at a time when so much else seems divisive, Luther’s story is joy personified.”

“CNN Films has a successful tradition of celebrating the New Year by showcasing music documentaries, and Dawn Porter has beautifully illuminated the public and private life of Luther Vandross, giving CNN audiences a front row seat to celebrate his extraordinary songbook and enduring legacy,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent, CNN Originals and creative development, CNN Worldwide.

Directed and executive produced by Dawn Porter, Luther: Never Too Much is produced by Trish D Chetty and Ged Doherty for Raindog Films; Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner for Foxxhole Productions; and Leah Smith for Trilogy Films. Executive producers are Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman for Sony Pictures Television Nonfiction; Tom Mackay and Richard Story for Sony Music Entertainment; Jon Platt and Brian Monaco for Sony Music Publishing; Colin Firth for Raindog Films; and Phil Thornton on behalf of Foxxhole Productions. Sony Music Vision is the distributor.

To celebrate the film premiere, Luther Vandross’ previously unreleased soulful rendition of the Beatles’ “Michelle” is available now. The song will be one of many included on Never Too Much: Greatest Hits, a new compilation of music by Vandross out December 13.

Luther: Never Too Much premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival to a standing ovation and critical acclaim. Giant Pictures released the film theatrically in select cities this fall. The film will also premiere on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and Max in 2025.

W. Paul Coates Awarded the 2024 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community

The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, announced W. Paul Coates, publisher, community activist, and founder of Black Classic Press and BCP Digital Printing as the recipient of the 2024 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, which will be presented at the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 20. Since 1978, Black Classic Press (BCP) has published remarkable, and often out of print, works by and about people of the Black diaspora. A lifelong advocate for celebrating the life of Black writers and bolstering their literary legacies, Coates will be presented with the Literarian Award by author and recipient of the 2020 DCAL Medal Walter Mosley.

Born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1946, Coates enlisted in the US Army and served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967. Upon his return, Coates moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he began volunteering with the Black Panther Party’s community breakfast program and additional community programs that provided access to healthcare, clothing, and housing assistance. After leading the local chapter for several years, he established the George Jackson Prison Movement—a prison literacy program to provide incarcerated readers access to progressive Afrocentric literature. The movement led to the opening of The Black Book bookstore in Coates’s basement, which evolved into the Black Classic Press and later inspired the development of BCP Digital Printing. As founder and publisher of Black Classic Press, Coates has published original works by Yosef Ben-Jochannan, John Henrik Clarke, John G. Jackson, Walter Mosley, and many others, in addition to reissuing titles by Amiri Baraka, Edward Blyden, Amy Jacques Garvey, Larry Neal, J. A. Rogers, Bobby Seale, Carter Woodson, and W. E. B. Du Bois, among many other notable works.

“As a librarian, publisher, and community activist, W. Paul Coates has been instrumental in preserving the legacy of remarkable writers and elevating works that have shaped our personal and collective understanding of the Black experience within the borders of the United States and around the globe,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “Coates has demonstrated for more than 40 years the importance of reading the past and nourishing the creative imagination of present and future writers of the Black diaspora. We are honored to celebrate his extraordinary career with the 2024 Literarian Award.”

Coates earned his bachelor’s degree in Community Development and Education from the Homestead-Montebello Center of Antioch University, now known as Sojourner-Douglass College, in Baltimore, Maryland, and his master’s in Library Science from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1980–1991, Coates served as the African American Studies manuscript and reference librarian at Howard University’s Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, where he oversaw the curation of out-of-print Black literature. A former member of the Black Panther Party, Coates was instrumental in the establishment of the Black Panther Archives at Howard University. He returned to Sojourner-Douglass College as an adjunct instructor of African American Studies, and co-edited Black Bibliophiles and Collectors: Preservers of Black History alongside Elinor Des Verney Sinnette. In 2018, he was the inaugural recipient of the Dorothy Porter Wesley Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, and in 2020 he was presented with the Lord Nose Award by the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. Coates is a founding member and chair of the National Association of Black Book Publishers, and was a member of the National Book Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1997-2005.

Coates is the 20th recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, which is given to an individual or organization for a lifetime of achievement in expanding the audience for books and reading. Past recipients include Dr. Maya Angelou, Terry Gross, Kyle Zimmer, the literary organization Cave Canem, Doron Weber, Oren J. Teicher, Carolyn Reidy, Nancy Pearl, Tracie D. Hall, and most recently, Paul Yamazaki. Nominations for the Literarian Award are made by former National Book Award Winners, Finalists, and judges, and other writers and literary professionals from around the country. Final selections are made by the National Book Foundation’s Board of Directors. Recipients of the Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community receive $10,000 and a solid brass medal.

The 75th National Book Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The in-person Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, which will be broadcast live for readers everywhere, will include the presentation of the Foundation’s two lifetime achievement awards and the 2024 National Book Award Winners in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. For more information about the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner and to register for the broadcast, please visit nationalbook.org/awards.

US Magistrate Judge Embry Kidd Confirmed to 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

The U.S. Senate confirmed federal magistrate judge Embry Kidd to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Monday.

Kidd was confirmed on a 49-45 vote and will be President Joe Biden’s second appointee to the federal appeals court that covers Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Before becoming a U.S. magistrate judge in 2019, Kidd was a federal prosecutor in Florida and an associate at Williams & Connolly. After graduating from Yale Law School in 2008, Kidd clerked for Fourth Circuit Judge Roger Gregory.

[SOURCE: law.com]