Randy Lange Photo

2026 already feels different—and it’s all because we’re noticing the little things. Every smile, every small win, every quiet moment… gratitude is showing us the way. What if we actually focused on it each day? Imagine the year we could create… what is something you’re grateful for today?

The Alvin Ailey Opening Night Gala had that rare New York electricity—equal parts reverence and forward motion—where you can feel the legacy in the room and still sense a new chapter unfolding in real time. Photographing it felt like more than covering an event… it felt like witnessing a love letter to dance.
It was powerful to see the leadership so present: Alicia Graf Mack carrying her inaugural season with intention, alongside Matthew Rushing , Masazumi Chaya , and Bennett Rink—a reminder that Ailey is built not only on brilliance onstage, but on the people who hold its spirit day after day.
At the Ziegfeld Ballroom in NYC, everything flowed beautifully—excellent service, incredible food, and a room glowing with artists and art lovers: Bianca Lawson , Lorraine Toussaint , Phylicia Rashad , Samara Joy , George Faison , and LaChanze among the many faces that made the night feel like culture in motion.
And honestly… we’re just grateful. Grateful we got to be in the room, cameras in hand, hearts full—capturing people we admire and a company we deeply respect. Seeing some of our images featured afterward made us smile. Thank you, Ailey, for letting us hold a little piece of the history.