The Resume

(January 5, 1931-December 1, 1989)
Founded Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Influential choreographer in the history of dance
Danced for Lester Horton, Martha Graham, Charles Weidman and Hanya Holm

Why he might be annoying:

Despite producing over 150 ballets he suffered from insecurity.
He was manic depressed.
He dropped out of UCLA.
He smoked.
He took drugs.
He ate fatty foods.

Why he might not be annoying:

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater challenged racial barriers by being one of the first mixed race dance companies in the United States.
He received the Kennedy Center honors 'for lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts' (August 1988).
He grew up poor, Alvin and his mother picked cotton to survive.
His father left when he was very young.
He challenged stereotypes about the 'look' of a classical dancer.
He saw a psychotherapist and wrote himself stern notes to give up cigarettes, drugs, and fatty foods.
'Revelations,' his signature piece, is 'the journey of a people from the degradation of slavery to the joy of self-sufficiency.'
Alvin Ailey's ballet 'Cry' was a birthday present for his mother but was dedicated 'to all black women everywhere, especially our mothers.'
He died of AIDS.

Credit: SumoBear

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• BET's 25 Best Dancers Ever [November 2007] (Ranked: 12)
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [January] (Ranked: 1051931)
• Choreographers
• College Drop Outs
• I am a Texan
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [A-C]
• I Died in 1989 (Ranked: 58)
• I Have AIDS/HIV
• I'm Depressed [Reportedly Manic/Bi-polar]
• Kennedy Center Honorees (Ranked: 1988)
• Look at Me, I Like Fruit
• Profiles 4501-4750 (Ranked: 4702)
• Rainbow Honor Walk Inductees [San Francisco] (Ranked: 2019)
• Spingarn Medal Winners (Ranked: 1976)
• SumoBear's Profiles

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 63 Votes: 46.03% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 44 Votes: 52.27% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 25 Votes: 36.00% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 103 Votes: 51.46% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 31 Votes: 67.74% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 24 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 44 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 88 Votes: 52.27% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 131 Votes: 58.02% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 209 Votes: 56.46% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 254 Votes: 53.54% Annoying
In 2003, Out of 601 Votes: 50.25% Annoying
In 2002, Out of 1622 Votes: 44.20% Annoying