The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s capital campaign was a well-choreographed project that breathed new life into the organization’s fundraising plan

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

The next step
The campaign got another huge boost with the groundbreaking ceremony in the fall of 2002. And while there was the requisite mayoral address and “big moment with the shovels,” Rink says, this was no run-of-the-mill groundbreaking. Given the flair and showmanship that defines Alvin Ailey, how could it be? White-clad students and members of the troupe danced through the streets of New York from the old building to the new site, accompanied by music from “Revelations,” Ailey’s signature piece, then gave a performance. It was all covered by the New York Times, which kicked up the excitement level a couple dozen notches and didn’t hurt the fundraising efforts none either.