you say in there that alvin ailey used to speak of what he called blood memory.does that mean? >> that means look to your ancestors before you look ahead. it informs you. it gives you a root. it gives you a basis to stand on. you know where you come from. it gives you... you're not sanding on stand. you're standing on rock, on solid ground. >> brown: five years ago the company built its own office and rehearsal space in midtown manhattan, eight floors, 77,000 square feet, said to be the largest building dedicated solely to dance in the u.s. thousands of children and adults take classes there. classical ballet. african. and the horton, a style of modern dance named for ailey's mentor. jamison has helped make ailey an international brand. 30 professional dancers tour constantly. to date the company has performed in 71 countries for an estimated 23 million people. >> please welcome the alvin ailey american dance theater. ( applause ) >> brown: and last year they appeared on the popular abc prime time show dancing with the stars. jamison was skeptical at first but th

. >> woodruff: a jeffrey bwn ofile of the dancer who has be at the helm of the alvin ailey company fotwo decades, and is now spping down. >> people don'remember me for hohigh my legs were. they remember me a any other ncer because something touched em inside. >> ifill: d the gadgets that have changed our lives, d what the next decade hos. >> woodruff: that's all ahd on night's "pbs newshour." major fundg for the pbs newshours provided by: >> what the world needs now energy. thenergy to get theconomy humming agai the energyo tackle challenges like climate change. what if that ergy came from an energy company? every day, chevron invests $ million in peoe, in ideas-- seeking, tching, building. eling growth around the worl to movus all ahead. is is the power of human energy. chevron. >> we are intelsponsors of tomorrow. and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporng science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century and with the ongoing sport of these initutions and foundations. and... this program w made possible byhe corporation for blic broa