Although blackness influenced much of Alvin Ailey's work, he ultimately felt the importance lay in the dancer rather than race. Ailey told the New York Times, "I'm trying to show the world that we're all human beings and that color doesn't matter. What's important is the quality of our work." Alvin Ailey, an iconic American choreographer, was born on January 5, 1931 in Rogers, Texas. Being a Southern-born African American influenced much of Ailey's later work. He grew up in the midst of racial segregation, lynchings and violence. Ailey's mother, Lula Ailey, had him at age 17, his father, Alvin, abandoned his family. Alvin Ailey's history and experiences in the South dramatically changed Ailey's view of whiteness. He drew inspiration from his church, the local dance hall, and the music he heard at these black gatherings. At the age of 12, Ailey's family moved to Los Angeles to pursue different job opportunities. There, Ailey's interests took flight and he became involved in dance. Ailey attended Thomas Jefferson High School. His schoolmate in 1949, Carmen De Lavallade, introduced him to Lester Horton. Horton's multiracial dance school covered a wide range of styles including modern ballet, jazz and classical. After finally leaving the college track at age 22, Alvin joined the Horton Dance Company. Ailey participated in several art forms and Hollywood films at this time. Horton died in 1953 leaving Ailey as the company's new artistic director. Alvin eventually founded his own company in 1958, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. The company explains: “He founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (now The Ailey School) in 1969 and formed the Alvin Ailey Repert...... middle of paper......m/people/alvin-ailey - 9177959."Alvin Ailey." PBS and Web. 27 April 2014. .DeFrantz, Thomas. "Alvin Ailey." PBS and Web. 25 April 2014 Dance: The Repertoire of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre." Project MUSE - Composite Dance Bodies: The Repertoire of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Np, nd Web. April 27, 2014. "Alvin Ailey." The John F. Center Kennedy for the Performing Arts. Np, nd Web. 27 April. 2014. .