Recognizing and commending the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 50 years of service as a vital American cultural ambassador to the world.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1088) recognizing and commending the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 50 years of service as a vital American cultural ambassador to the world, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1088 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1088 and thank Mr. Nadler for introducing this resolution. H. Res. 1088 commends the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater for its excellence, impact and service to the arts.

Alvin Ailey's Dance Theater is referred to by many as the world's premier dance company. AAADT promotes aspects of the African American experience while preserving modern dance heritage to millions across the globe. Its long-standing accomplishments and the rich global impacts speak volumes about the company's caliber of talent and unique mission.

Alvin Ailey founded AAADT in 1958. As a child, Ailey developed a keen interest in art. In his high school years, he began taking dance classes with Katherine Dunham, a pioneer of African modern dance. However, Ailey's most important influence came from Lester Horton. Horton led a team of racially mixed dancers. Ailey, however, took over the team once Horton passed away in 1953. Five years later, Alvin Ailey founded AAADT.

Both the founder and other leaders of the organization have made outstanding accomplishments and have been recognized for their contributions to the arts. In 1982 Ailey received the United Nations of Peace Medal. President George W. Bush recognized AAADT and Artistic Director Judith Jamison with the National Medal of Arts in 2001. Until that point, a dance ensemble had never received such an award. The recognition this dance company receives is well-deserved.

AAADT has performed for an estimated 21 million people in 48 States, 71 countries, and 6 continents. This company tours more than any other performing arts company. The Joan Weill Center for Dance, the studio for AAADT, is the largest facility dedicated exclusively to dance in the United States.

AAADT has performed before numerous distinguished audiences, including President Johnson, President Carter, President Clinton, and President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya. They have also represented themselves at famous historical engagements such as the Rio de Janeiro International Arts Festival, the First Negro Arts Festival in Dakar, the fabled New Year's Eve performance for the Crown Prince of Morocco, the Paris Centennial performance at the Grand Palais Theatre, South Africa, and two Olympic games.

In addition to the stellar performances, AAADT has also worked with more than 100,000 young folks every year to assist them in discovering their creative talents and help build their self-esteem through their artistic skills. The Arts in Education and Community Programs includes nine Ailey Camps across the United States. They also have implemented an Ailey II, a junior company, to train less experienced dancers to perform across North America. These young people come from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds to come together to empower themselves and to learn art.

In recognition of 50 amazing years of excellence, let us commend AAADT for their contributions to the United States and the rest of the world. It has established an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people while using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and other cultures. AAADT is irreplaceable.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution honoring the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I would like to thank

Chairman Miller, Ranking Member McKeon, and the rest of my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee for bringing this resolution to the floor.

Founded in 1958, Ailey has become widely recognized as one of the world's premier modern dance companies. In its 50-year history, Ailey has performed for an estimated 21 million people in 71 countries on six continents. The troupe's signature work, ``Revelations,'' has been seen by more people across the globe than any other work of dance.

Alvin Ailey was born into an impoverished childhood in the small, segregated town of Rogers, Texas. Dedicated to promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience, Ailey began offering opportunities to black dancers when there were few. ``Revelations,'' which draws upon the influences of black spirituals, gospel music, and blues, epitomizes the universality of art that Ailey sought to explore. Of this groundbreaking work, he said: ``Its roots are in American Negro culture, which is part of the whole country's heritage. The dance speaks to everyone.''

By 1963, the troupe had begun welcoming dancers of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, and translating their experiences into some of the most riveting works of dance of the 20th century. The company now performs works by a wide range of choreographers, both emerging and established, from across the globe, totaling more than 200 works by over 70 choreographers.

In 1982, Alvin Ailey received the United Nations Peace Medal, and in 2001, President George W. Bush recognized the Ailey and Artistic Director Judith Jamison with the National Medal of Arts, making the Ailey the first dance company to be honored with this award.

Ailey continues to make a lasting impact in the dance world through its arts in education and community programs, which provide more than 100,000 young people from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds the opportunity to explore their creative potential, not only in New York, but in cities throughout the United States. Ailey II, the junior company, reaches more than 69,000 people each year, and brings its inspiring performances to smaller communities across North America.

I am proud that Ailey calls my congressional district in New York City home, and has made the Joan Weill Center for Dance the largest facility dedicated exclusively to dance in the United States.

I wish to thank Ailey for all it has done to break cultural barriers through the arts. I especially want to thank Judith Jamison, Artistic Director, and Sharon Gersten Luckman, Executive Director, who keep Alvin Ailey's artistic and social vision alive today.

I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution congratulating the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for its 50 years as a cultural ambassador to the world, and thanking them for their outstanding service to future generations of artists.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1088, recognizing and commending the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 50 years of service as a vital American cultural ambassador to the world.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was formed in March 1958. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African American modern dancers, their combination of technique, repertoire, and high-energy performances changed forever the perception of American dance.

The dance company began to travel throughout the country, and in 1960, the AAADT became a resident company of the 51st Street YWCA's Clark Center for the Performing Arts. It was during this time period that Ailey choreographed his signature work ``Revelations'' which has been seen by more people across the globe than any other work of dance. In 1962, the company was chosen to tour the Far East, Southeast Asia, and Australia as part of President John F. Kennedy's ``President's Special International Program for Cultural Presentations.''

AAADT made its performance at the New York City Center in 1971, where it is currently the resident company. AAADT celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1980 and its founder, Alvin Ailey, received the United Nations Peace Medal in 1982. When Ailey died in 1989, Judith Jamison, a former principal dancer, assumed the role of artistic director.

Despite the loss of its founder, AAADT has thrived. Following tours in Russia, France, and Cuba in the 1990s, as well as residency in South Africa in 1997, the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation broke ground for a new dance complex in Manhattan. It is the largest facility dedicated exclusively to dance in the United States.

Every year the company provides more than 100,000 youth from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to explore their creative potential and build their self-esteem through its Arts in Education and Community Programs, including nine Ailey Camps in cities throughout the country.

Today, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has gone on to perform for an estimated 21 million people in 48 States and in 71 countries on 6 continents, including two historic residencies in South Africa. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of American modern dance.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.