Judith Jamison, American dancer and former artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, died over the weekend at the age of 81. According to Christopher Zunner, Ailey’s spokesman, announced that Jamison died Saturday in New York after a brief illness surrounded by close friends.
Jamison began studying ballet at the age of six at the Judimar School of Dance. After years of dedication and practice, she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965. There, for 15 years in a row, she became one of the most eminent soloists.
After her time there, she appeared as a guest dancer with various ballet corporations and on Broadway. Ultimately, Jamison returned to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as artistic director, a position she held for 21 years and was later promoted to creative director emeritus.
Not only was she an icon on stage and in her choreography, but she was also a source of inspiration with timeless beauty. Her first performance of the legendary song “Revelations” was in 1970, when she rocked wing eyeliner, daring eye shadow and long eyelashes. She then traveled to the UK in 1973 to perform at their Alvin Ailey studio, wearing natural hair and no makeup. The dancer wore a head wrap with minimal makeup the following yr at the New York premiere.
In 1978, she performed Ailey’s legendary dance “Cry” along with her natural hair – which he choreographed in honor of his mother and dedicated to black women. In 1979, she played Carola Polakov Resort, showing off her natural chocolate skin in Ready to Wear Advance. In her Broadway debut, she played the lead in Sophisticated Ladies, wearing red lipstick, eyeliner and long eyelashes. Fast forward to 2018, Jamison attended Black Girls Rock 2018 wearing striking eyeliner and a bald head to just accept the Living Legend Award.
And he’s an everlasting legend. We are endlessly grateful for Jamison’s work and inspiration through various mediums. Her legacy will survive. Below, to have a good time Jamison’s beautiful life, a compilation of some of her most inspiring beauty moments over the years.
Dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison (center) performs on stage with Linda Kent (left) and Sylvia Waters in a scene from Alvin Ailey’s Seventies musical “Revelations.” (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Judith Jamison (photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage) *** Local caption ***Portrait of African-American dancer and choreographer Judith Jameson, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York, 1997. (Photo: Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)CLAREMONT, CA – MAY 12: Judith Jamison attends the Claremont Graduate School Forum on Social Responsibility for the Arts on May 12, 1995 in Claremont, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)American dancer Judith Jamison performs “Cry,” Alvin Ailey’s dance honoring moms, with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, City Center, New York, New York, May 4, 1978. (Photo by Linda Vartoogian/Getty Images)Dancer Judith Jamison in her costume as the lead in Sophisticated Ladies on Broadway, photographed in 1980. (Photo by Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 02: Honored dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison attends the 2015 Library Lions Benefit on November 2, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Library Lions Benefit)Portrait of American dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison, 1979. (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)Portrait of American dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison, 1979. (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)Dancer Judith Jamison photographed while performing “Cry.” (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)Dancer Judith Jamison photographed while performing in “The Prodigal Prince.” (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)Dancer Judith Jamison photographed in 1980 (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)(Original caption) Mikhail Baryshnikov, a elaborate stepper in the world of classical ballet, joins Alvin Ailey City Center Dance Theater star Judith Jamison in a full of life version of the hustle here 4/22. They are at a press conference to announce the world premiere of a brand new duet developed for them by Alvin Ailey on May 11. The launch will profit the dance group and Boys Harbor, Inc. (photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)(Original caption) At a 5/3 rehearsal for the 5/4 profit, Judith Jamison (center) of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater joins Maria Llorente (right) and Lazaro Carreno (left), two young stars of the National Cuban Ballet, in City Center. Choreographer Alvin Ailey arranged for 2 international award winners to come back to America as part of a profit to profit the financially struggling Ailey Theater and Boys Harbor, Inc.Judith Jamison attends the Broadway premiere of A Raisin In The Sun at The Royale Theater / Guastavino’s in New York, New York, United States. (Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)NEW YORK, NY – MAY 16: Judith Jamison attends the 2016 Fred And Adele Astaire Awards at the NYU Skirball Center on May 16, 2016 in New York City. (Photo: Rommel Demano/Getty Images)Judith Jamison performing Revelations, 1967. (Photo: Jack Mitchell/Getty Images)NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 23: Judith Jamison attends the opening night of “FELA Arrivals”! at The Eugene O’Neill Theater on November 23, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by NICK HUNT/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Judith Jamison attends Logo’s Trailblazer Honors 2017 at the Cathedral Church of St. John of God, June 22, 2017 in New York. (Photo: Krista Kennell/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)NEWARK, NJ – AUGUST 26: Judith Jamison (Living Legend Award) attends Black Girls Rock! 2018 Preview Dinner at Nico Kitchen & Bar on August 26, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)American dancer Judith Jamison with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Great Britain, June 13, 1973. (Photo: M. McKeown/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Judith Jamison for Carola Polakov Resort 1979 Ready to Wear Advance (Photo: Darleen Rubin/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)Judith Jamison for Carola Polakov Resort 1979 Ready to Wear Advance (Photo: Darleen Rubin/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)Dancer Judith Jamison discusses the premiere of “Hidden Rites” at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York, May 9, 1973. (Photo by Peter Simins/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 29: Judith Jamison attends the sixty fifth Anniversary Gala of the opening of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center on November 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: John Lamparski/Getty Images)
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