“The moment I saw the ballet in 1997, I knew that I had to be in the company,” Antonio Douthit said of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations.
“It took me to a place that made me feel, ‘You can overcome anything’ – and I had to be able to touch people the way that they touched me.”
A St. Louis native, Douthit now is a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He will return home to perform with the company, courtesy of Dance St. Louis, April 11-12 at the Fox.
He was moved by the genius of Alvin Ailey – just as Ailey experienced that same inspiration from global dance ambassador Katherine Dunham. Through Douthit, the local cycle of greatness is sure to continue as he makes a name for himself and solidifies a tradition of strong dancers.
When Ailey came to St. Louis in 2005, Douthit was one of the new kids on the stage. Upon becoming a company member in 2004, he had only been with them for a year. Douthit feels like his additional experience has made all of the difference between then and now.
“The first time I came, I was trying to climb through the ranks,” Douthit said. “I’m excited to be coming back home on a different level and in a different mind frame.”
He credits the influence of Artistic Director Judith Jamison and Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya for his transformation.
“This is the best time to be a dancer in this organization,” Douthit said. “To be here while Ms. Jamison is here and be involved in this magic – it’s amazing.”
On April 11-12 at the Fox, the community has the privilege of being a part of history by witnessing the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 50th anniversary.
“Once people get a sense of what’s going on – especially young black people – there’s no stopping us as far as what’s to come in the dance world,” Douthit said.
“We perform dance from every genre. We show the community that there’s more than just hip-hop dance – and that you can excel at breaking down barriers and opening doors.”
Full of humility and gratitude, Douthit is happy to be part of a team and shied away from discussed being one of the designated MVP’s of the team, along with Alicia J. Graf and Clifton Brown. He is quick to point out that the recognition – for the other dancers, at least – is warranted.
“She is a more than the eye can hold,” Douthit said of Graf. “She’s a refined dancer, but she dances from the inside. Alicia gives off the vibe of this goddess that you just want to touch and be around.”
He said she dances very much in the spirit of the company’s namesake.
“Mr. Ailey didn’t like cookie cutter dancers, he wanted each person to be individual,” Douthit said. “That’s why everyone watching will go away with something that they love.”
By supporting the dance company and his performance with them, Douthit said, guests will walk away with a sense of pride and recognition of the vast human resources that lie within the city. He encourages St. Louis to stand up and take credit for his success and his ability to move beyond St. Louis without leaving the city behind.
“Come see what you have to offer and what you’ve created,” Douthit said. “Every person in St. Louis has touched my life – whether they know it or not – and people should come and see what your children and their children will be able to do.”
Glowing reviews in the likes of the New York Times make Douthit’s status as a major player undeniable. But, for him, the true reward comes with reaching others through his performance.
“I just want to give my human spirit,” Douthit said. “It is amazing that you can touch people and enrich their lives without saying one word.”
Dance St. Louis presents The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m., April 11-12 the Fox. For more information, call (314) 534-1111 or visit www.dancestl.org.
