AILEY is a nonprofit organization comprised of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, The Ailey School, Ailey Extension, and Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs. AILEY's mission is to further the pioneering work of Alvin Ailey by establishing an extended cultural community which provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. As important as its artistic and educational missions, the Ailey organization plays a social role, using the beauty and humanity of the African American heritage and other cultures to inspire and unite people of all races, ages, and backgrounds. Named “Cultural Ambassador to the World” by a United States Congressional Resolution, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater numbers 32 of the most talented dancers in the world, and its diverse repertory is unparalleled in modern dance. A typical season includes engagements in its home base of New York City (five weeks each winter at New York City Center and two weeks each spring at Brooklyn Academy of Music), a 20-city National tour, and extensive international touring. Annually, nearly 500,000 people experience Ailey performances and programs. A multifaceted organization, the Ailey organization also encompasses Ailey II, a second company dedicated to the development of young artists and community outreach; The Ailey School, a world-class dance academy that provides instruction to a diverse group of students aged 3-25; Ailey Extension, which offers dance and fitness classes to people of all ages and levels; and Ailey Arts In Education & Community Programs which provides young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds with the opportunity to explore dance, build self-esteem, and develop life skills.