LOS ANGELES - A new exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of Alvin AileyAmerican Dance Theater (AAADT) will open October 4, 2008 in the Library of Congress/IraGershwin Gallery at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Gallery is the only permanent Library ofCongress exhibit space outside of Washington D.C. The Ailey exhibit will run through theCompany's performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in March 2009.

The exhibition, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: 50 Years as Cultural Ambassador tothe World, celebrates AAADT as it marks 50 years of bringing African-American cultural expressionand the American modern dance tradition to the world's stages. It features original material from theLibrary's Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation Archive and selected items from the Lester Horton DanceTheater Collection, offering a window into Ailey's roots, his repertory of 79 choreographic works,the development of his dance company, and the continuation of the Ailey legacy under the leadershipof Judith Jamison.

Drawing on an extensive collection of photographs, the exhibit includes images of works bysome of the 70 choreographers who have created dances for AAADT, as well as extraordinaryexamples of Ailey's most beloved creations, including "Blues Suite," "Revelations," and "Cry." Italso features a short film presentation that provides insight into the history and development ofAAADT.

Along with the exhibit, Dance at the Music Center welcomes AAADT for 6 performances,March 18 through 22, 2009, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The exhibit runs through April 6, 2009 and the gallery is open during all performances. Forthose not attending a performance, the gallery can be visited by taking a free tour of the Concert Hall.For tour information, contact (213) 972-4399 or visit musiccenter.org.

The Library of Congress/Ira Gershwin Gallery, established in 2003, provides Angelenosdirect access to the Library's rich and diverse collections. The Gallery, designed by Hodgetts andFung Design Associates, was made possible by a generous gift from the Ira and Leonore GershwinTrust for the Benefit of the Library of Congress.