Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Performance Dataset, 1958-1989 (ICPSR 39654)
Version Date: Jan 21, 2026 View help for published
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Harmony Bench, Ohio State University;
Kate Elswit, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Great Britain)
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR39654.v1
Version V1
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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Performance Dataset, 1958-89, was developed to support the Radical Accounting project, which explores the transmission of dance knowledge and the historical growth of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) from a small touring company to a global institution. The dataset, curated by Kate Elswit and Harmony Bench, comprises detailed records of 4,143 performances in 505 cities across 66 countries, compiled and verified using over 30,000 archival documents and personal materials. It highlights previously underdocumented venues and events, foregrounds the collective histories of dance artists, and aims for accuracy through extensive archival research and consultation with company legacy holders.
Commissioned for the Whitney Museum's "Edges of Ailey" exhibition, the dataset excludes related troupes and solo performances not billed as AAADT, instead focusing on public performances, repertory, and venues connected directly to AAADT between 1958 and 1989.
The accompanying user guide clarifies curation decisions and explains the relational structure of the data to support robust historical research.
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This release is a Fast Track release and files are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped for release. Users should consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
ICPSR usually offers files in multiple formats for researchers to be able to access data and documentation in formats that work well within their needs. If you have questions about the accessibility of materials distributed by ICPSR or require further assistance, please visit ICPSR’s Accessibility Center.
This study is maintained and distributed by the National Archive of Data on Arts & Culture (NADAC). NADAC is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.