Legendary dancer, choreographer and Alvin Ailey muse Judith Jamison died on November 9, 2024, at age 81. She was the artistic director emeritus of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Born in Philadelphia in 1943, Jamison trained as a ballerina when Black dancers were rare in the genre. She joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965. Her debut performance at the Harper Theater Dance Festival in Chicago featured Jamison in African American choreographer Talley Beatty’s Congo Tango Palace, the last section of a longer work (Come and Get the Beauty of it Hot). She quickly became one of the company’s—and the world’s—most celebrated dancers.
In 1971, Ailey choreographed Cry, a solo work dedicated to his mother and a love letter to Black women everywhere, to be danced by the statuesque beauty. Premiering at New York City Center, Jamison had never danced the three-part production in its entirety on stage before its debut. She also didn’t fit the original costume. She and Ailey pulled together two white long-sleeve leotards (two were required because of the length of her arms) and added a floor-length skirt from Ailey’s most well-known work, Revelations. The simple white ensemble, complete with a long sash used in the 17-minute production, is now a symbolic look still used within its performances. Jamison’s famous extended leg in the piece has been captured in bust form and is on display at Edge of Ailey, an exhibit currently running at the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Ailey created other principal roles for Jamison, including Pas de Duke (1976), which she danced with ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov. She performed with Ailey for 15 years and spent the next nine appearing as a guest artist, starring on Broadway and creating her own company, The Jamison Project.
At Ailey’s request, Jamison became the artistic director of the Ailey company in 1989, a post she remained in for 21 years, where she guided the organization to unprecedented heights. She orchestrated the establishment of The Joan Weill Center for Dance, Ailey’s flagship building and the largest complex dedicated to dance in New York City and executed a multi-city, global tour to celebrate Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 50th anniversary in 2008. She also expanded the company’s repertoire, commissioned new works and led the company to international acclaim.
In 1999, Jamison was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors. Her other honors included the National Medal of Arts and the Handel Medallion, New York City’s highest cultural award.
Jamison was involved with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater until her death. While roaming the executive fourth floor of The Joan Weill Center for Dance, she often called out, “Why is everyone so quiet?” putting all who were in awe of her presence at ease. She also continued to teach and mentor Ailey students and members of its companies. In 2023, the organization threw a surprise 80th birthday party for the trailblazer, complete with a video highlighting some of her greatest achievements.
Jamison’s legacy of breaking barriers for Black dancers and women in leadership positions in the arts, as well as her passion, dedication and grace, has inspired generations of dancers and audiences alike. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit and contributions to the dance world will live on.
