Through Candid Edwards
December 14, 2025
Mack’s vision for the future is lofty; plans to engage contemporary audiences include integrating mainstream musicians.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater celebrated its inaugural season on December 3. At the helm was the newly appointed artistic director, Alicia Graf Mack.
Graf Mack was named artistic director in 2025, becoming only the fourth person to lead the company since its founding in 1958 by choreographer Alvin Ailey. Her appointment followed Robert Battle’s tenure and came after years of direct involvement with the organization as a dancer and teacher. Graf Mack previously performed with the company and later served as dean and director of the Juilliard School’s Dance Division returning to Ailey in a leadership role. In an interview with Inc, Mack describes her leadership as both personal and mission-driven.
“Working here is more than a job. It’s part of who I am and what I believe in. So I’m not here just to fulfill my hours. I’m all in,” she said.
As a leader and alumna who studied under the last two directors, Judith Jamison and Battle, she honors the founding philosophy while adapting to today’s audiences and platforms.
“Dance came from the people and should always be given back to the people,” Ailey told the outlet.
Her vision for the future is lofty, plans to engage today’s audiences include integrating mainstream musicians.
“We need to create cross-industry collaborations, such as music collaborations, to reach more people as well,” she said, describing how the organization plans to engage audiences beyond traditional concert settings.
The appointment of Graf Mack heralds a new phase focused on strategic growth rather than reinvention. The company plans to emphasize digital reach, partnerships and storytelling that strengthen the Ailey brand while staying true to its cultural roots.
Founded in New York City, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has long been known for centering black cultural expression within modern dance. The company toured internationally as an ambassador of American art. Graf Mack’s return to the company places that legacy in the hands of a leader shaped by both his past and his evolving future.
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