Judith Jamison, former artistic director and leading dancer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has died at the age of 81.
Jamison died Saturday in New York after a brief illness. She was surrounded by close friends. Christopher Zauner, a spokesman for the Ailey company, confirmed to The Associated Press.
About Judith Jamison, Alvin Ailey Pioneer And Artistic Director Emerita
Judith Jamison was born in Philadelphia and trained in ballet from an early age. She began dancing with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965. In 1980, she was appointed the company’s artistic director, and she held this role for the next 20 years.
Jamison played a key role in transforming the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater into a major dance company worldwide. She discovered and nurtured many new dancers, and she expanded the diversity and range of the company’s repertoire.
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Jamison was honored with numerous awards for her acting and artistic leadership. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002 and the Lincoln Center Award in 2010.
Jamison’s death is a great loss to the dance world. She was a gifted dancer and an inspirational artistic leader. Her legacy will always be remembered in the history of dance.
