Judith Jamison

Judith Jamison

Joined the Judimar School of Dance aged 6
She was discovered by Agnes de Mille whilst training at the Philadelphia Dance Company and she made her NYC debut in the American Ballet Theatre
Her debut in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was in 1965
1. She was an immediate success due to her hight, and her elegant, striking prescence
2. In 1971 Ailey choreographed 'Cry' especially for her and it became her signature piece
  1. Dedicated to 'all black women everywhere... especially our mothers'
  2. Grounded, heavy, hardships
  3. Violent movements & gestures. Use of long material as cleaning cloth, blood and water.
3. She left in 1980 to star in the Broadway hit 'Sophisticated Ladies'
She began to choreograph after leaving the AAADT, and they premiered her first work, 'Divining' for her.
1. North African, Central African & Latin rhythms
2. Spine ripples & isolated walks - Dunham style [which Jamison was trained in]
3. Deep plies - Horton technique
After Ailey's death in 1989, she became the Artistic Director of the AAADT, she extended the company's repertoire with her own works & the works of others

Resource summary

	Created by Thea-esme almost 12 years ago