The life of a professional dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) is characterized by exhilarating global travel and profound cultural connections, a journey detailed by leading dancer Constance Stamatiou in an interview with Condé Nast Traveler. Stamatiou who was hired by the legendary Judith Jameson and has performed in 15 countries and all over the United States, emphasizes that the AAADT’s ability to connect globally stems from the vision of Alvin Ailey himself, who "always said dance came from the people and should be given back to the people". Because Ailey choreographed many pieces based on his own life—including growing up experiencing racism, being raised in a church, and seeing domestic violence—the company can travel anywhere in the world and, even without a shared spoken language, communicate through the universal language of dance.
Touring brought both immediate challenges and unexpected successes. Stomach recalls that her first stop in London left her feeling like a "deer in headlights" as she navigated the unspoken rules of tour life. It was in London, at the beautiful Sadler Wells theater, where seeing her picture in the book Alvin Ailey: A Portrait in Motion by Andrew Eckles confirmed, "Oh I've made it. I am a part of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I'm in a book". Later, in Beijing, she was thrust into a lead role during a performance of Wade in the Water when the leading lady was "vomiting in the wings". After hearing an urgent voice say, "Constance, you got to do Wade Girl," she nodded "yes" and stepped into the leading lady’s role, which she then held permanently. During downtime in Beijing, the company visited the Great Wall of China, where Stomach finally saw the sun after a week of gray skies and even rode a camel.
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The spiritual connection between dance and place was strongest in Greece, where the company performed at the Herod Atticus Theater, an ancient outdoor amphitheater below the Acropolis. Stomach felt she was "dancing for the gods"; during one formation, the group lifted their heads to the sky and saw the Acropolis lit up and the stars above, creating a truly divine experience. Another astonishing moment occurred in Washington D.C. in 2023: after performing for the governor's ladies' luncheon, President Biden emerged from the Oval Office, inviting the company in. Stomach looked at her girlfriend and exclaimed, "Girl, we aren't got on no shoes," confirming they were barefoot in the Oval Office, noting the carpet was "very itchy, wooly like hard carpet".
Audiences worldwide display unique behaviors. Paris is characterized by "the most aggressive audience ever," often demanding two or three encores, showing the dancers, they are not done until the audience says so. Atlanta, conversely, is "a party," where people love to cheer, hoot, and holler, and is "probably the only place" where the audience will sing along to the lyrics of the song being performed. In Italy, touring Piacenza, Bolzano, and Trice, Stomach received the most "cat calls" in her life, mostly from older men smiling and saying, "Ah Bella".
The AAADT also maintains deep historical ties with the United States; the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. was opened in 1971 after Jacqueline Kennedy commissioned Alvin Ailey to choreograph Mass, set to Leonard Bernstein's music. New York City, however, remains a place of intense "pressure," as "Everybody and their mama is there"—critics, alumni, and other dancers—forcing the performers to "show your best" to inspire others and hopefully "get a good review".
Stamatiou personal milestones frequently intersected with her travels: she found out she was pregnant while in Germany, recognized the plus sign on the pharmacy pregnancy test box, and consulted her director and doctor to continue dancing. She met her husband at a salsa club called Mangoes in Miami. The pinnacle of her career was performing the 16-minute masterpiece Cry—Ailey's birthday gift to his mother and dedicated to all black women—in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Receiving a bouquet of roses from her daughter on stage after dedicating the ballet to her own mother marked a truly special, full-circle moment.
