Revelations

For Sarita Allen, a star of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and a protégée of Kathleen Stanford Grant, Pilates was key to her decades-long career.

- Anne Marie O’Connor

SARITA ALLEN HAS TWO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AS BOTH A DANCER AND A PILATES TEACHER. PHOTO BY BILL WESTMORELAND FOR THE SERUCELL CAMPAIGN

PILATES STYLE Tell us about your childhood.

SARITA ALLEN As a child growing up in Seattle, I fell in love with dance at the age of 4. I attended the acclaimed Cornish School of the Arts and began my dance training with the incomparable Dorothy Fisher. When I was first invited to Dance Theater of Harlem, it was on a scholarship for a Summer Intensive while I was still in high school. After I graduated, they invited me to come to New York City as an apprentice with the Main Company.

One particular day after class, a friend who was interested in studying at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center downtown asked me if I’d accompany her to a scholarship audition; I went with her for moral support, but I also ended up auditioning myself. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about joining Alvin Ailey because my dream since I began dancing was to become a ballerina. I guess the universe thought differently. Alvin saw the potential for me to become a well-rounded artist, mastering many techniques, not only classical ballet; The Ailey Style was a combination of the Horton Technique, the Graham Technique, classical ballet and a bit of Dunham Technique.

I ended up receiving a scholarship to Alvin Ailey, which meant I was at DTH doing ballet in the morning, then I’d sneak downtown in the afternoon to study at Ailey. Alvin then stepped out in faith and offered me a position in his company.

I was a principal dancer with Ailey from 1975 through 1994, performing many of his works, including his masterpiece