DANCE IN AMERICA follows the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
(AAADT) during a pivotal period in its history, when the company ventured
abroad and established new roots at home. The documentary marks a moment of
both growth and reflection: the company travels to Russia after an absence
of 15 years; moves into a state-of-the-art custom facility, called by THE
NEW YORK TIMES “the largest in the country devoted exclusively to dance”;
and creates a new ballet entitled “Love Stories,” choreographed by longtime
AAADT Artistic Director Judith Jamison in collaboration with hip-hop pioneer
Rennie Harris and modern dance maverick Robert Battle. Under Jamison’s
steadfast leadership, the making of a new dance and a new home serve as
symbols of the remarkable foundation that Ailey built and of the vibrancy
that defines the company today. Directed by filmmaker Phil Bertelsen, BEYOND
THE STEPS tells the story of what it takes to keep dance modern, art
relevant, and a legacy alive.