When anyone mentions African American dance, the Alvin  Ailey American Dance Theater comes to mind. This premier African American  dance company graced the stage of the old Madison Civic Center several times. It&'s a school for up and coming dancers. It is the Harvard of  American dance schools. And Madison's own Jonathan Person has the chance of a lifetime to attend the Alvin Ailey School.
      While he was born in Chicago, Person grew up on Madison's north side. It was at a dance workshop sponsored by the  Monona Academy of Dance at Mendota Elementary School that Person was introduced to the world of dance. He showed enough promise then that JoJean Retrum, the academy's director, offered Person a scholarship to attend the academy. "I took it home to my mom," Person said after a workout at Monona Academy. "She went 'What? You want to be a dancer?'She didn';t believe it. But I showed up anyway, ' and I've been dancing ever since."
      Person is a very powerful dancer. It was awesome watching him spin and whirl and jump and somersault during his practice routine. He hardly built up a sweat going places most of the rest of us would not dare to go. Dance and ballet are clearly his      life's passion. He has performed in productions like Coppelia and Peter Rabbit.
      For the past several years, Person has been totally  focused on his art, trying to break into the big time. "I've  been to Joffrey Midwest, Milwaukee Ballet, and Centro Prodanza in Cuba where Laura Alonzo is the artistic director," Person said. He almost      made it to the bigtime with the Dance Theater in Harlem during the summer of 2004. But the theater was experiencing severe financial pressures and  closed down, leaving dancers like Person high and dry. Person has been working his way through the dance world. During the past school year, Person was a trainee with the Louisville Ballet Company. This meant he danced and practiced during the day and worked odd jobs at drug stores, grocery store, and restaurants at  night.
      Now, Person has the chance to make it big with the Alvin Ailey School. He has been invited to tryout through a summer program in New York.  "I have a full scholarship for the school part of Alvin Ailey and the Dance School of Harlem," Person said. "You go for a month; you take classes; and work hard staying in shape. They see you and if they like you, you work well with the choreographers they bring in and you are mature enough to push it to the next level, then they might take you. I have a chance to dance with the Alvin Ailey dance troupe. If I can get into that, I would be thrilled. I would be happy because there would be nothing else I would need."
      The dance world could open up for Person. "If I get into Alvin Ailey, I'd like to up my level and even get to principal there," Person said.  "Even if I don't stay withAlvin Ailey, there are other companies like New York City Ballet or the American Ballet Theatre. Both of them are in New York. There are also Broadway shows. There's so much work out there, you can also do side      jobs. You can audition for Broadway shows or music videos. There is so much you can do."
       There's a catch to this that may prevent Person from pursuing his dream. As a starving artist, Person doesn't have the $1,500 he will need for room and board in New York.  "I have financial issues," Person admitted.  "I don't have the money for it. I've been making ends meet as an artist for the past  several years."
      And so, he's asking the community to help him get to the next level. People interested in being an artistic patron for Person may send a contribution to the Monona Academy of Dance, Attn: JoJean Retrum, 6332 Monona Drive, Monona, WI 53716.
      Jonathan Person could be playing the lead role in Le Corsaire, one of his life's dreams. But  it's going to take a village to get him there.
Jonathan Person may go to Alvin Ailey School of Dance
A chance of a lifetime
by Jonathan Gramling
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June 28, 2006 Issue