Object Details
- Artist
- Jack Mitchell, 13 Sep 1925 - 7 Nov 2013
- Sitter
- Masazumi Chaya, born 1947
- Exhibition Label
- Born Fukuoka, Japan
- For more than four decades, Masazumi Chaya has played a vital role in the success of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He joined the company in 1972 and performed as a principal dancer for fifteen years before transitioning to the post of rehearsal director in 1988. An invaluable assistant to Ailey himself, Chaya became the company’s asso ciate artistic director in 1991—two years after the founder’s death. Since then, he has served as the troupe’s stan dard-bearer and master teacher, preserving Alvin Ailey’s artistic vision by schooling new generations of dancers in Ailey’s original works. First teaching dances precisely as conceived and choreographed by Ailey, he then delights in challenging dancers to make the works their own. By also staging Ailey ballets with dance companies throughout the United States, Chaya has extended Alvin Ailey’s influence far beyond the confines of the company that bears his name.
- Nacido en Fukuoka, Japón
- Durante más de cuatro décadas, Masazumi Chaya ha ejercido una función vital para el éxito del Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ingresó a la compañía en 1972 y fue bailarín principal durante 15 años, hasta que pasó a ocupar el puesto de director de ensayos en 1988. Asistente indispensable del propio Ailey, Chaya se convirtió en director artístico asociado de la compañía en 1991, dos años después de morir el fundador. Desde entonces ha sido el paladín y maestro principal de la compañía, donde conserva la visión artística de Ailey enseñando sus obras originales a las nuevas generaciones. Chaya comienza por enseñar los ballets exactamente como los concibió y coreografió Ailey; luego disfruta el reto de ver que los bailarines hagan suyas las obras. También ha extendido la influencia de Ailey más allá del American Dance Theater con montajes de sus ballets para otras compañías de Estados Unidos.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- 1979
- Object number
- NPG.2017.33
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © 1979 Jack Mitchell
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image/Sheet: 35.4 × 27.9 cm (13 15/16 × 11")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Costume\Jewelry\Ring
- Costume\Footwear\Shoes
- Masazumi Chaya: Male
- Masazumi Chaya: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer
- Masazumi Chaya: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Choreographer
- Masazumi Chaya: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dance director
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2017.33
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm42cfdee12-f3b0-49ea-bde5-74a4478053be
