For Constance Stamatiou, dance has always been more than movement. A member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for nearly two decades, she describes it as healing, a universal language, and simply “the air that I breathe.”
This fall, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Rockefeller Center come together to celebrate movement in the heart of New York City. We spoke with Stamatiou about the pop culture icons who first inspired her, the healing power of dance, and what New York City means to her.
Rockefeller Center: What does dance mean to you?
Constance Stamatiou: Dance means life. It means the air that I breathe. It is healing.
RC: What first inspired you to become a professional dancer?
CS: I would say pop culture: seeing these divas like Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson. I loved watching movies like Grease and Dirty Dancing growing up, and I've just been dancing ever since I was five. I love it.
RC: Why is it important to celebrate dance?
CS: It's important to celebrate dance because it is healing. It's a universal language that everyone can speak and recognize, even if we don't actually speak the same language. I think dance is healing, and so I just want to give back. This is my way of giving back.
RC: Where are your favorite places to dance in New York City?
CS: My favorite place to dance is obviously at the Ailey School, and also at City Center.
RC: What does New York City mean to you?
CS: New York City is this melting pot of culture where dreams can come true. It is a place of freedom, of liberty.
New York Moves You
Rockefeller Center and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater come together this fall for New York Moves You, a celebration of movement that begins with Rise, a new dance film created across Rockefeller Center, and continues with opportunities to experience Ailey choreography in person.
Move! at Rockefeller Center
The celebration continues with Move! at Rockefeller Center, a series of free dance workshops on the Plaza led by the Ailey team. The series kicked off on September 19, National Dance Day, with a Revelations Celebration Workshop led by Ailey Arts In Education master teacher Nasha Thomas, followed by a NY Style Mambo workshop with Ailey Extension instructor Katherine Jiménez on October 3, and a Hip Hop workshop with Ailey Extension instructor TweetBoogie on October 17.
Open to a range of ages and experience levels, the workshops invite participants to learn, move together, and experience the joy of dance in the heart of New York City.
About Constance Stamatiou
A Charlotte, North Carolina native, Stamatiou trained at Pat Hall's Dance Unlimited and North Carolina Dance Theatre before studying at SUNY Purchase and, as a Fellowship student, at The Ailey School. She joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2007 after a stint with Ailey II. Her honors include the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship and a spot on Sports Illustrated's 2022 "Top 100"; in 2023 she was nominated for a UK Critics' Circle National Dance Award for her performance in Cry. She's performed at the White House, appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, The View, and The Jennifer Hudson Show, and danced on film in Shake, Rattle & Roll and Bolden. She is a mother of two.
Follow along at @constance.stamatiou and catch the choreography as it rolls out on Rockefeller Center's social channels starting September 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is New York Moves You?
New York Moves You is a collaboration between Rockefeller Center and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, celebrating movement across the city. The partnership includes Rise, a new dance film created at Rockefeller Center, along with Move! at Rockefeller Center, a series of free public dance workshops on the Plaza.
How can I join Move! at Rockefeller Center?
Move! at Rockefeller Center is a series of free dance workshops taking place on September 19, October 3, and October 17. Guests are invited to join the Plaza and take part in workshops led by members of the Alvin Ailey team.
Do I need dance experience to take part?
No. The workshops are built to welcome anyone, from lifelong dancers to first-timers. As Stamatiou says, dance is a language everyone can speak.
What is Rise?
Rise is a new dance film created through the collaboration between Rockefeller Center and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Set across Rockefeller Center, the film brings Ailey movement to one of New York City’s most iconic settings and helps kick off this season’s celebration of dance.
