Matthew Rushing

Where do I start…This guy…

Matthew is one of my favorite dancers. Absolutely. I grew up watching him with the Ailey company at City Center. I could always get a free ticket just by standing outside the theater and asking if anyone had an extra ticket. It worked EVERY time. Watching Matthew on stage is an experience… it changed everything for me. How could someone be so smooth and so… ON? HE is a beautifully expressive dancer with a cat like dynamic. I remember one of my first times watching Matthew in Urban Folk songs by Ulysses Dove and he performed a tricky turn or something and I said out loud in the quiet theater “whoa!”.

One summer a while back, I attended the Ailey summer program and Matthew selected me to be in his piece! He created a new ballet for the Summer Sizzla in the old Ailey building. Working with him was a dream! He is the nicest guy you ever met. He is humble. He always kept a great attitude. I learned a lot from Matthew that summer. He also really pushed me. He gave me a special part…It really was a push in my dancing.

Matthew Rushing was born in Los Angeles, CA. He began his dance training with Kashmir Blake in Inglewood, CA and later continued his training at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Matthew is the recipient of a Spotlight Award and Dance Magazine Award and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He was a scholarship student at The Ailey School and later became a member of Ailey II, where he danced for a year. During his career, Mr. Rushing has performed as a guest artist for galas in Vail, Colorado, as well as in Austria, Canada, France, Italy, and Russia. He has performed for Presidents George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as at the 2010 White House tribute to Judith Jamison. During his time with the Company, he has choreographed three ballets: Acceptance In Surrender (2005), a collaboration with Hope Boykin and Abdur-Rahim Jackson, and Uptown (2009), a tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, and ODETTA (2014), a celebration of “The queen of American folk.” In 2012 he created Moan, which was set on Philadanco and premiered at The Joyce Theater. Mr. Rushing joined the Company in 1992 and became Rehearsal Director in June 2010.

I am so lucky and honored to finally have Matthew as a part of this series. He is a joy to watch and to work with. Matthew has been a HUGE influence for me. Even today. Thank you for believing in me and Thank you for your inspiration.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A computer Engineer.

Favorite Things to eat?

Salmon, fruit, and… Captain Crunch breakfast cereal.

Favorite Books?

Most of the books I read are geared toward studying something. Whether it is dance history or Bible studies.

Favorite Movies?

The Wiz

Favorite Dance Piece?

To Watch: Dancing On The Front Porch Of Heaven by Ulysses Dove To Dance: Revelations by Alvin Ailey

Favorite Show or Musical?

West Side Story

I like dancers who…

…are expressive.

I am afraid of…

…being ineffective

A dance piece should…

…touch you.

Something you like to do other your current job?

Working with young dancers.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

Two years ago when the Ailey company honored me with a special evening. It wasn’t about having a special evening that made it great. It was great because I could really feel the love and support from the company and the audience.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

My first trip to South Africa. I noticed how fulfilled they felt, even though they had almost no material possessions. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things.

One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

I fell of the the stage when I was dancing for Ailey 2…during Blues Suite by Alvin Ailey.

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

Mr. Ailey simply because of his legacy, his vision, the company, the work that he choreographed… that I am still dancing. Also Judith Jamison. She is the one that hired me into the company and basically gave me the opportunities I have had in my career. As far as giving me roles and responsibilities in the company. She was also the one who promoted me to Ballet Master.

One of the hardest things about your job?

Getting older. I am going on 24 years in the company. It is harder to sustain your instrument, Therefore it’s harder to keep passionate about what you do . That has become difficult for me recently.

Something you would change in the DANCE world?

I wish the training of dancers would change so that dance teachers don’t create self doubt and criticism. It should be the opposite… it should empower the dancer. To teach them to love and appreciate themselves. As ballet master I see too many dancers that don’t know how beautiful they are and it gets in the way. We are criticized since day one. We dance in front of a mirror and all our imperfections are revealed. Rarely do you get notes that let you know what you are doing correctly…we only get notes when we do something wrong. In a way it programs us to never really appreciate our full potential.

Something you would change in the REAL world?

Diversity in our mindset. Having the world be at a place where we could love who we are and also still accept others for who they are.

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

I let go of the goal. Not to say I don’t have plans for my career… but at this point in time, I am taking it day by day. Allowing things to take its own path.

A question you want to know the answer to:

I wonder if I lived my life at this point to its fullest? I don’t know who could answer that,but…

A piece of advice for aspiring artists?

Find your passion. Find that thing that inspires you…The light source. and when you do find it, learn how to love hard work to achieve it. Anything that is worth living for… has a certain amount of work that is need to achieve. I am meeting a lot of young people that are very passionate about dance, but when it comes to doing the work to get to the top, they are not interested. I feel sorry for them.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing. Photo by Andrew Eccles

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing in Judith Jamison’s Divining. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing in Ulysses Dove’s Bad Blood. Photo by Johan Elber

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing in Ronald K. Brown’s Dancing Spirit. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Linda Celeste Sims and Matthew Rushing in Ulysses Dove’s Episodes.  Photo by Paul Kolnik

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing in Alvin Ailey’s Love Songs. Photo by Andrew Eccles

Main Photo – Rehearsal Director and Guest Artist Matthew Rushing.  Photo by Andrew Eccles