McKayle formed and directed his own dance company, Donald McKayle and Dancers (1951–69), and was the head of the Inner City Repertory Dance Company from 1970 to 1974. He maintained relationships with companies that are repositories of his work including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, and the Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Theatre. He had been a choreographer of the Limon Dance Company from 1995 onwards.Gregg Lizenbery, McKayle, 527. He had also choreographed over 70 pieces for dance companies around the world in the U.S., Canada, Israel, Europe and South America.
