Judith Jamison
Encyclopedia
Judith Anna Jamison is an American dancer and choreographer, best known as the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
.
Jamison began studying dance at age 10. She graduated from Germantown High School
in 1961, and attended Fisk University
at the age of 15 and the Philadelphia Dance Academy. In 1964, Agnes de Mille
invited Jamison to dance in her ballet "The Four Marys" at the American Ballet Theatre
. Jamison moved to New York City
in 1965 and joined the Alvin Ailey company. She soon became a principal dancer for Ailey and remained with the company until 1980. Among her notable roles were "The Prodigal Prince" (1967), "Masekela
Language" (1969), and especially "Cry" (1971), a 15-minute solo piece. She married fellow Ailey dancer Miguel Godreau in 1972; they divorced two years later. In 1977, she danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov
in Ailey's "Pas de Duke," set to the music of Duke Ellington
.
Jamison left the Alvin Ailey company to star in the Broadway
musical Sophisticated Ladies
, also based on Ellington's music. In 1981, she danced with Alexander Godunov
in Ailey's "Spell," to the music of Keith Jarrett
. During the 1980s, she began choreographing her own works. When Alvin Ailey
died in 1989, Jamison was named Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has choreographed many works for the company since then. Jamison retired as the company's artistic director in 2011, and was elevated to Artistic Director Emerita on July 1 of that year, as choreographer Robert Battle
assumed artistic duties with AAADT on that date.
Jamison's numerous awards include Kennedy Center Honors
(1999) and the National Medal of Arts
(2001). She won a prime time Emmy Award
and an American Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography for the PBS
"Great Performances: Dance In America" special, "A Hymn for Alvin Ailey." She wrote an autobiography, "Dancing Spirit", published in 1993.
She is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta
sorority.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
.
Jamison began studying dance at age 10. She graduated from Germantown High School
Germantown High School (Philadelphia)
Germantown High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.GHS, located in Germantown, is a part of the School District of Philadelphia....
in 1961, and attended Fisk University
Fisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
at the age of 15 and the Philadelphia Dance Academy. In 1964, Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
invited Jamison to dance in her ballet "The Four Marys" at the American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
. Jamison moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1965 and joined the Alvin Ailey company. She soon became a principal dancer for Ailey and remained with the company until 1980. Among her notable roles were "The Prodigal Prince" (1967), "Masekela
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
Language" (1969), and especially "Cry" (1971), a 15-minute solo piece. She married fellow Ailey dancer Miguel Godreau in 1972; they divorced two years later. In 1977, she danced with Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is a Soviet and American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974...
in Ailey's "Pas de Duke," set to the music of Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
.
Jamison left the Alvin Ailey company to star in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Sophisticated Ladies
Sophisticated Ladies
Sophisticated Ladies is a musical revue based on the music of Duke Ellington.After fifteen previews, the Broadway production, conceived by Donald McKayle, directed by Michael Smuin, and choreographed by McKayle, Smuin, Henry LeTang, Bruce Heath, and Mercedes Ellington, opened on March 1, 1981 at...
, also based on Ellington's music. In 1981, she danced with Alexander Godunov
Alexander Godunov
Alexander Borisovich Godunov was a Russian-American ballet danseur and film actor, whose defection caused a diplomatic incident between the USA and the USSR.-Biography:...
in Ailey's "Spell," to the music of Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...
. During the 1980s, she began choreographing her own works. When Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey, Jr. was an American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Ailey is credited with popularizing modern dance and revolutionizing African-American participation in 20th century concert dance...
died in 1989, Jamison was named Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has choreographed many works for the company since then. Jamison retired as the company's artistic director in 2011, and was elevated to Artistic Director Emerita on July 1 of that year, as choreographer Robert Battle
Robert Battle
Robert Battle is the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, assumed the reins on July 1, 2011, as its third director since the company's 1958 inception.When receiving the position Battle says, "I hope to be worthy of this tremendous responsibility that I've been given, and to...
assumed artistic duties with AAADT on that date.
Jamison's numerous awards include Kennedy Center Honors
Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. The Honors have been presented annually since 1978 in Washington, D.C., during gala weekend-long events which culminate in a performance for—and...
(1999) and the National Medal of Arts
National Medal of Arts
The National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the United States Congress in 1984, for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts. It is the highest honor conferred to an individual artist on behalf of the people. Honorees are selected by the National Endowment for the...
(2001). She won a prime time Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
and an American Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography for the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
"Great Performances: Dance In America" special, "A Hymn for Alvin Ailey." She wrote an autobiography, "Dancing Spirit", published in 1993.
She is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
sorority.