For nearly 70 years, the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been showcasing Black talent and culture through dance. The troupe, which features Afro Latino talent and dance elements, is bringing its robust program to L.A. this week. Founder Alvin Ailey’s technical approach to dance combined modern dance, ballet and jazz — among other dance forms — in an attempt to blur the traditional boundaries of the dance world. Part of the organization’s mission was not only to uplift African American storytelling through movement, but to also highlight Black culture from across the globe. In 2025, the Ailey Theater celebrated Afro Caribbean culture through its production of “Jazz Island,” choreographed by Maija García. Channeling her Cuban roots and intensive research on Caribbean folklore tradition, García crafted a 25-minute show inspired by author Geoffrey Holder’s nonfiction book “Black Gods, Green Islands,” which highlighted the rhythms and energies of the Afro Caribbean diaspora. Sebastian Garcia, a 10-year dance professional in his first year with the Ailey Theater, told The Times he was especially impressed with the …