"Heartworks" Gallery
Kavi & Yash
Making Music with Michael
Keystone Kids Camp
Music Adds Life to the Party
Music to Soothe the Spirit
Sydney's Song
"Here's to Life"
"Alleluia"
A Dancer's Renaissance
Kavi & Yash
Sydney's Song
Keystone Kids Camp
Artist Trading Cards
A Blessing For Marybeth
Charlie's Chair
Lasting Impressions
John's Art Legacy
Anna's Bracelets
A Caregiver's Collage
Keystone Kids Camp
Jay: A Dancer's Renaissance
From the cotton fields of the Deep South to a fast-paced life as a professional dancer in Europe and Africa, Jay Alvin Chestnut’s story is an exciting tale of a young Horatio Alger in the arts. Jay Alvin’s notable career spanned over three decades as a dancer, ballet master and choreographer with the Paris Opera Ballet and other operas and dance companies throughout Europe. In later years, he created his own company.
When Jay came North at the tender age of 17, his only experience with dance was watching the adults in church “shout” to the music of the piano and tambourines. Though he had no formal training, he was considered a natural dancer and managed almost immediately to join the Henry Steele Review, a group touring Italy for six weeks. Jay then had the good fortune of being “adopted” by a German family who enabled him to attend Volkwang Schule, the National School of Performing Arts in Essen Rhine Westphalia for two years, followed by a scholarship to study with the Paris Opera Ballet.
In 1985, Jay Alvin appeared as stunt man in Louis Gossett, Jr.’s film Enemy Mine with Gossett and Dennis Quade. Jay also conceptualized the Lou Gossett role of the reptilian alien, observing reptiles in zoos then incorporating their movements and eating habits into the alien’s character to create a believable performance. Following the film, Jay participated in a cultural exchange at Kenya’s University of Nairobi, where he taught a comparative course of African movement based on ceremony and ritual and its evolution in America following the introduction of African slaves. He also served as artistic director for a chain of casinos in Africa.
In 1989, Jay returned to New York City where he became a Certified Nursing Assistant/Medical Technician. After living with AIDS for almost 10 years and in quickly declining health, Jay made the decision to receive hospice care at Keystone House.
Soon after his arrival at the hospice, Jay began rehearsing what he thought would be his final performance, presented to the scores of Philadelphia,composed by Bruce Springsteen, and Amistad, composed and conducted by John Williams. Hospice staff built a platform, set up lights, and helped Jay stage an elegiac Swan Song. The performance celebrated Jay Alvin’s 65th birthday.
(Above) Blues singer Juanita Holiday and Jay. Juanita has donated her time and talents at several of Jay's performances.
Executive Director Gail Inderwies felt that perhaps more could be done for Jay medically than had been done previously and approached Dr. Ellen Tedaldi, Professor of General and Internal Medicine and HIV/AIDS specialist at Temple University. Dr. Tedaldi attended Jay’s performance and examined him shortly thereafter. Jay agreed to try antiretroviral therapy one more time. With hospice support through the extreme side effects, his energy and health improved. While not cured, Jay became healthier. He began envisioning a “renaissance” – dancing again, a productive life beyond sickness.
Returning to his artistic roots,Jay continues to translate his experiences as an HIV-positive gay man into dance performances created to educate and inspire.
2004 "Swan Song"
"Philadelphia" dance performance
Click here to read "O Keystone Nights", a poem Jay wrote while living at Keystone House.
Celebrating at Keystone's 10th Anniversary with a performance of "Fernando's Hideaway". Left to right: Archedream dancer Glenn Weikert, PA Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman,Jay (sitting in mask), and Keystone Hospice Executive Director Gail Inderwies.
2005 "Rites of Passage"
"Secret Garden" dance performance
Click below to read Jay's performance narrative.
Backstage after Jay's "Rites of Passage" performance: Keystone Hospice Executive Director Gail Inderwies, Jay, and Dr. Ellen Tedaldi.
2006 "La Vie en Rose"
Click below to read "La Vie en Rose" program.
Taking a break from dance rehearsal: Archedream's Glenn Weikert and Jay.
