Jamison, Judith (1943-…), is an American dancer, choreographer (dance creator), and director who has been associated with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for much of her career. She was a leading dancer with the company from 1965 to 1980 and served as its artistic director from 1989, after Ailey’s death, to 2011. As a dancer, Jamison gained acclaim for her commanding technique, regal bearing, and powerful stage presence. Ailey created several dances for her, notably Cry (1971), a solo tribute to black women; Pas de Duke (1976), a pas de deux (dance for two persons) for Jamison and the Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov celebrating the music of the American bandleader Duke Ellington ; and Spell (1981), with music by the American pianist Keith Jarrett . Other choreographers, including the American John Neumeier and the French-born Maurice Béjart, also created works for Jamison.
Judith Ann Jamison was born on May 10, 1943, in Philadelphia. She studied dance at several Philadelphia schools. Jamison made her debut in 1959 at age 15 in the role of Myrtha in a production of Giselle. Jamison was discovered by the famous American choreographer Agnes de Mille in 1964 at a master class led by de Mille at the Philadelphia Dance Academy (now part of the University of the Arts). De Mille brought Jamison to New York City to dance in The Four Marys, a ballet choreographed by de Mille for the American Ballet Theatre in 1965. That year, Jamison attracted the attention of Alvin Ailey, who invited her to join his company. She left the company in 1980 and starred in the Broadway musical revue Sophisticated Ladies (1981). From 1988 to 1990, she supervised her own company, the Jamison Project.
Jamison has choreographed numerous dances for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and other companies. Her best-known dances include Divining (1984), Rift (1991), Hymn (a tribute to Ailey, 1993), Riverside (1995), Sweet Release (1996), Echo: Far from Home (1998), and HERE…NOW (2002). Jamison has written an autobiography, Dancing Spirit (1993).
