Phases is a startling, classic jazz dance choreographed at the height of Alvin Ailey’s artistry. The ballet is divided into five sections, each composed by a significant African American jazz musician:

I. "Astral Traveling" composed by Lonnie Liston Smith; performed by Pharoah Sanders 
II. "Thembi" composed by Pharoah Sanders 
III. "Flight Time" composed by L. Mizell; performed by Donald Byrd 
IV. "Makin' It" composed by H. Mason and L. Mizell; performed by Donald Byrd 
V. "It's Time" composed and performed by Max Roach. 
 

Mr. Ailey choreographedPhaseshaving recently returned from a year-long sabbatical resulting from exhaustion and he thought he would never be able to create another dance. Former Associate Artistic Director Masazumi Chaya remembered, "It was right after Alvin's breakdown, and he almost lost faith in himself. Alvin used to tell me, 'Chaya, I can't make a dance step anymore.' I said, 'We don't go to see dance steps, we go to see your choreography.' WithPhases, Alvin related to the timing of the jazz rhythms as well as the energy and creative feelings of the sounds. He pulled out of us the best part of ourselves as performing artists, and the best part of himself with humor and poetry.”

Phases incorporate the Horton technique, as Chaya explained. "Alvin showed who Lester Horton is, not just the Horton exercises. Alvin also demonstrated Mr. Horton's idea of how to use props, how to wrap fabrics up as a skirt, and how to worship a woman."

After Mr. Ailey returned to choreographPhases, he said, "I was fearful aboutPhases. I wondered if I could make a ballet anymore. I had the music by Max Roach around the house for a long time. And it worked. Which tells me a lot, tells me that I can go on. I was suddenly very happy. Rationally happy, the best kind of happiness you can have."