Judith Anna Jamison is an American dancer and choreographer, best known as the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Jamison began studying dance at age 10. She graduated from Germantown High School and attended Fisk University at the age of 15 and the Philadelphia Dance Academy. Jamison moved to NYC and joined the Alvin Ailey company. She soon became a principal dancer for Ailey and remained with the company until 1980. 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.
When Alvin Ailey died in 1989, Jamison was named artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has choreographed many works for the company since then.
Awards include:
- Kennedy Center Honors
- National Medal of Arts
- Emmy Award
- American Choreography Award for Outstanding Choreography
- Honoray member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
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