Ailey II: The Next Generation of Dance

For over 50 years, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.

Photo Credit: Photo by Nir Arieli

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Performer Bios

KAMANI ABU (New Castle, DE) began his dance training at the age of 16 at a local studio in his hometown. He also trained in the summer intensive at BalletX. He is a recent graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and has worked with choreographers including Jennifer Archibald, Tracy Inman, Darshan Bhuller, Gregory Dawson, and Maleek Washington. In 2023, Abu performed in Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla with Dance Theatre of Harlem and in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during AILEY’s New York City Center season. This is his first season with Ailey II.

JADA AMMONS (Los Angeles, CA) began her dance training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. She earned her BFA in Dance from Point Park University in 2022 and graduated from The Ailey School’s Certificate Program in 2025. Ammons also trained in the School’s Summer Intensive where she was the recipient of the Oprah Winfrey Foundation Scholarship. She has performed works by choreographers Debbie Allen, Renee Robinson, Ray Mercer, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Christopher L. Huggins, Ronald K. Brown, Branndi Lewis, and Freddie Moore. This is Ms. Ammons’ first season with Ailey II.

CARLEY CRUZAT BROOKS (Chicago, IL) received her training at TDA Prep under the direction of Preston Miller and Jacqueline Green. Her studies include summer dance intensives with Jacob’s Pillow, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Brooks graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, class of 2025. She has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Jiří Kylián, Ronald K. Brown, Hope Boykin, Marco Goecke, Jennifer Archibald, and Christopher L. Huggins. Her performance highlights include Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during AILEY’s New York City Center season in 2023. This is Brooks’ second season with Ailey II.

MEREDITH BROWN (Asheville, NC) began her dance training at a local studio in her hometown. She studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and she is a recent graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, where she performed in Alvin Ailey’s Festa Barroca and Memoria during AILEY’s 2022 and 2023 New York City Center seasons. Brown also danced in Hope Boykin’s Chasing the Spirit at Jazz at Lincoln Center. She worked with Madison Hicks’ “The Moving Forward Collective,” and she is an alumnus of the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, where she worked with Sidra Bell, Rena Butler, and Antoine Vereecken. This is Ms. Brown’s second season with Ailey II.

CHRISTIAN BUTTS (Atlanta, GA) began his dance training at Dancemakers of Atlanta under the direction of Lynise Heard and Denise Heard-Latimer. He also trained in the summer intensive programs at GALLIM School of Movement with Andrea Miller and A.I.M by Kyle Abraham. He has worked and performed pieces by Linda Celeste Sims and Glenn Allen Sims, Nattie Trogdon and Hollis Bartlett, Seán Curran, Michelle Thompson-Ulerich, and Kevin Wynn. In 2025, he graduated from SUNY Purchase receiving a BFA in Dance with a concentration in composition. This is his first season with Ailey II.

JENNIFER M. GERKEN (Houston, TX) began her dance training at age six. In 2016, she was accepted into Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. In 2019, Gerken received the Mary Martha Lappe Dance Scholarship and performed in an excerpt of Appalachian Spring by Martha Graham in the roles of the Bride and Follower. She was a student in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program where she graduated in 2023. Gerken has performed works by William Forsythe, Mark Caserta, Ethan Colangelo, José Limón, and Paul Taylor. This is her second season with Ailey II.

XAVIER LOGAN (Atlanta, GA) trained at Dancemakers of Atlanta. He is a recent graduate of The Juilliard School and has worked with choreographers Medhi Walkerski, Tom Weinberger, Sharon Eyal, Jamar Roberts, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Or Schraiber, amongst others. Logan has been featured on The Vampire Diaries, Dance Moms, and So You Think You Can Dance. In 2023, his work Welcome To The J(U) premiered as the first ever hip-hop dance to appear on Juilliard’s mainstage, and he was named one of Teen Vogue & GLAAD’s “20 Under 20” rising stars. This is Logan’s second season with Ailey II.

XHOSA SCOTT (Richmond, VA) was raised in Virginia where he began dancing with The School of Richmond Ballet’s outreach program, Minds in Motion. He continued training at Baltimore School for the Arts, and attended summer intensives including the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and The Juilliard School. After graduating high school under the School of American Ballet, Scott attended The University of Virginia where he majored in Art History with a minor in Anthropology. While at The Ailey School in the Scholarship Program, he performed works by choreographers including Ronald K Brown, Amy Hall Garner, Ray Mercer, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. This is Scott’s second season with Ailey II.

ADANNA SMALLS (Brooklyn, NY) began her formal dance training at the Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement. A 2021 graduate of the Professional Performing Arts School with a concentration in dance, she went on to complete the Certificate Program at The Ailey School. That same year, she performed in Bird Lives! and Memoria during AILEY’s New York City Center season. Smalls had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers including Clifton Brown, Norbert De La Cruz III, and Ronald K. Brown, and she previously served as an apprentice with Evidence, A Dance Company. This is her first season with Ailey II.

DARION TURNER (Clayton County, GA) began his dance training at AileyCamp Atlanta and attended Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts. He studied as a scholarship student at Atlanta Ballet and Eagles Landing Dance Center. Turner is a graduate of the Certificate Program at The Ailey School and worked with choreographers Darrell Grand Moultrie, Christopher L. Huggins Anthony Burrell, Amy Hall Garner, Ronald K. Brown, Norbert De La Cruz, Brandi Lewis, Houston Thomas, and Baye & Asa. He also performed works by Robert Battle, Geoffrey Holder, and danced in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during AILEY’s 2022 New York City Center season. This is Turner’s second season with Ailey II.

ERIC J. VIDAÑA (Las Vegas, NV) is a graduate of the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. He received his early dance training from The Nevada Ballet Theatre and continued studying at West Las Vegas Arts Center and Contemporary West Dance Theatre’s Conservatory, under the direction of Bernard Gaddis and Avree Walker. Vidaña furthered his dance education as a Scholarship student at The Ailey School. He has performed works by choreographers including Alvin Ailey, Hope Boykin, Donald Byrd, Michelle Manzanales, Tommie Waheed Evans, Milton Myers, Jeneane Huggins, Don Bellamy, Rennie Harris, Ronald K. Brown, and Christopher L. Huggins. This is his second season with Ailey II.

JORDYN WHITE (West Palm Beach, FL) graduated from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts high school. She began her dance training at Raskin Dance Studio in Florida and attended summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School, Modas Dance, and The Ailey School. White has performed works by choreographers Houston Thomas, George Balanchine, Judith Jamison, and Ronald K. Brown, and danced in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during AILEY’s 2022 and 2023 New York City Center seasons. She is a recent graduate of The Ailey School’s Certificate Program, and the University of Florida with a BA in Psychology. This is White’s second season with Ailey II.