JUDITH  JAMISON
1943-

Jamison, Judith (b. May 10, 1944, Philadelphia, Pa.), American dancer and choreographer; her work typically honors black women and African American cultural heritage.

Born May 10, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Judith Jamison started dancing at the age of six at the Judimar School of Dance. At 17, she left to study psychology at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. After three semesters, she returned to Philadelphia to continue her dance training at the Philadelphia Dance Company (now the University of Arts).

After a 1964 appearance with Agnes de Mille's dance troupe in New York, Jamison joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (AAADT) in 1965. Because of this company's financial difficulties, she danced in the Harkness Ballet's 1966 season. But in 1967, she returned to AAADT to become its premier dancer, and she toured the world dancing in roles such as Cry (1971), her signature dance which Ailey choreographed to honor the strength and dignity of African American women. For her performances, she won a Dance Magazine award in 1972.

Jamison left AAADT to perform with Gregory Hines in the 1980 Broadway musical, Sophisticated Ladies. With encouragement from Ailey, she also began to choreograph her own pieces honoring her African heritage such as Divining (1984) and Ancestral Rites (1989). These works, as well as others including Hymn (1993), were performed by AAADT and the Jamison Project, the 12-member company she established in 1987.

Because of Ailey's failing health, Jamison returned to AAADT as artistic associate in 1988. When he died in 1989, she accepted the position of artistic director to his company. She has continued the company's performance of early works choreographed by African Americans.