photo courtesy of Andrew Eccles The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater began as a small black group and has since embraced a diverse mix of modern styles of dance and traditional African dance forms. The company visits Centennial Hall 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

When an artistic entity brings an experience some dignity, something beautiful happens. A dance becomes more than just a dance. It becomes an affirmation of a lifestyle and history of a people.

It affirms what society has attempted to degrade. It normalizes an experience that is stigmatized. Alvin Ailey does that for the black experience, and he's valued for that reason.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been performing since its inception in 1958. What started as a small black group has transformed into a culturally integrated company. The unique blend of culture and modern dance has made it one of the most elite companies in the world.

"I think (Alvin Ailey) is unique," Dwana Smallwood, a dancer with Alvin for more than nine years, said. "One, because we do outreach and we pride ourselves on bringing dance back to the community, back to the people. And two, because we pride ourselves on putting everything out there. We aren't just technical dancers; we're spiritual dancers and we're emotional dancers."

With pieces ranging from "Revelations," a dance set to old black spirituals, to "The Hunt," which examines the connection between modern-day sports and Roman gladiator traditions, AAADT captivates and engages audiences all over the world. Its unique storylines and social examinations through modern dance put a new spin on self-expression.

"Alvin Ailey brings dignity to the African-American experience," said Marisa Spalding, an Africana studies minor and avid Ailey fan. "I think a lot of people, not just African-Americans, can gain a lot by watching a performance. They represent an experience that is not really in the limelight. And they do it without using cheap stereotypes. It's the real deal."

The dancers benefit from that, too.

"This organization doesn't just build better dancers; it builds better people," Smallwood said.

The dance theater is coming to Centennial Hall courtesy of UApresents Tuesday and Wednesday. Smallwood and the rest of the touring company will perform "Winter in Lisbon."

"It's a fun, exciting, jazzy piece that's really just party. It has a wonderful jazz tone and evening tone, and then a lovely duet between a man and a woman about love and teasing. In the end, it's just a celebration of life," Smallwood said.

What Ailey brings to his audiences is a chance to get a glimpse of a culture that is embedded in American life ÷ one that not everyone is exposed to. It gives viewers a chance to connect with history, American life and unique artistic expression.

"I think your life requires it. Art is an expression of people, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is an expression of where people are, where people have been, and where people are going. And to miss out on that, you're letting life pass you by," Smallwood said.