Topically Yours - Guest Ailey II dancer Paige Fraser

Host Deardra Shuler talks with Ailey ll dancer Paige Fraser who has defied all odds. Paige was diagnosed with severe Scoliosis which affects the alignment of the spine and pelvis. Her doctors advised surgery telling her a career in dance was highly unlikely.   Going against doctors’ orders, she kept dancing, never had the surgery, and used Gyrotonics to help keep her spine in a more stable place.  Nine years later, she finds herself a part of Ailey II. 

A Bronx resident and senior in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program as a scholarship student, within  the last year, Fraser has performed in over 35 US cities and internationally in Bermuda, Germany, Finland and Greece. Ms. Fraser completed her freshman year of college at the Dominican University of California as a dance major at Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet.  She has also trained in summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jacob’s Pillow, Juilliard, and Complexions and has worked with Desmond Richardson, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Camille A. Brown. In 2010, Ms. Fraser performed in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria as a special production of Revelations, in celebration of its 50^th year during the Company’s New York City season.  To see Paige and Ailey II, tickets are available by calling the Ailey Citigroup Theater for the April 18-29th performance, at 866-811-4111 or going on line via www.AlvinAiley.org/Ailey II or www.ovationtix.com