* Choreographed more than 79 ballets including ''Blues Suite'', his signature choreography.'' Revelations.''
* Founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's most recognized dance companies in 1958.''
* Received Kennedy Center Honors and National Medal of Art .''
* Established Dance Theatre of Harlem to train African American students who wanted to train dance.''
* Ailey's choreographies were based on his life's struggles.''
* Won nine Dance Magazine Awards, two Vernon Rice Awards, five Capezio Dance Awards, the Dance Perspective Foundation's First Dance/USA Award