In Ailey's telling, he moved to California as a shy, lonely child and found solace in the alter-realities of theater, dance, and film. It was during this period that he came to the identity of homosexual. Horton, an openly gay white man, pioneered a school and company of gay, lesbian and straight dancers from ethnic backgrounds who performed innovative choreography at concerts. Through Horton's mentorship and her acceptance into the Dance Company, Ailey responded to this sexual and racial liberation in a way that helped develop her creative talent in a thoughtful and sensual style that worked with her athletic body (43) . Although Ailey remained private throughout his life, he gave numerous interviews throughout his career and, but remained private regarding his personal affairs. In interviews he often described himself as a bachelor and a loner and claimed to feel the need to sustain a long-term relationship (44). Ailey's struggle to accept his sexuality could be seen as a limitation on his creative expression; however, his resilience to this socially created obstacle can easily be seen in his work. His technique is known to physically and emotionally move both the dancer and the audience. It's clear that although he kept his personal life to himself, his passion and intensity exploded on stage through his